Beatnik Babes

Well obviously I love almost everything about 60s style and fashion. Part of what I love is how diverse it was/is. From hardcore Mods and Modettes to Dollybirds, to psychedelic bohemians to beatniks, from op art and couture to go go girls and street style to renaissance revival. Today I'm focussing on Beatnik. Because Black is Back Baby, and it's never been sexier.

Sometimes I like to dress like a Russian Ballerina come Spy. Throw in a 60s element into this, and you have Beatnik. It's also a look that was worked (and rocked) by some of my style icons, so how can I not adore it? Also - unlike Op Art where it can be costly to acquire and difficult to wear short of making a huge statement - Beatnik is understated, and easy and affordable to style.

So those icons I mentioned earlier? Pretty big names of the 60s... Audrey Hepburn. Brigitte Bardot. Ann Margret. Edie Sedgwick.

 Audrey made it look cute as hell.

Ann Margret did what she did best - fusing cute with sexy as hell while still proclaiming to the world that she was a spectacular dancer and performer in her own right. 

And Brigitte? Well... only she could make a black high collar t-shirt, long pants and a head band look like pure sex, obviously.

Ann Margret proving that you can do Beatnik in colour and print too, with a strong mod influence (while simultaneously showing that she was a goddess with any hair colour)

I adore good fashion illustration, and recently discovered Etsy seller, artist Linear Fashions. I'm now itching to buy some of their work and am pretty obsessed with the Beatnik illustrations. Here's a few favourites... (god damn I want some over the knee suede boots - damn my skinny legs and tiny feet!)

So the modern basics for Beatnik inspired looks? 

Some great black 60s shape boots (like these black suede ones: https://www.etsy.com/listing/128686799/vintage-mod-battani-racing-stripe-boots?ref=market)

Or some black ballet flats (ala Audrey).

A black, long sleeved leotard (either scoop neck or turtle neck) or a black and white stripe shirt.

or a black or striped boyfriend jumper (Bardot) or Sweater Girl jumper (Monroe).

Black stockings (Edie and Brigitte) or black cigarette pants (Audrey).

A black beret.

Black sunglasses and/or spectacles.

Heavy black winged liner and full lashes.

Optional: Bongos and long cigarette...

Now, go forth and Poetry Slam, you dishy philosopher-ess you.

Psychedelic Days & Mirror Selfie Ways...

So... in order to regulate this here bloggyblog more frequently, I'm forcing myself to do regular entries even if they are less, umm... curated? themed? Whatever, I'm writing about fashion so it's a step in the right direction. More specifically vintage fashion and even more specifically, 1960s - 1970s fashion. Unless otherwise stated that is generally always the loose theme of this blog.

My events company business partner and I have added a new event to our roster, "Moon Landing" an evening in celebration of a time when the hair was big, lounge music was hot, and dinner parties were the place to be. One Sunday a month from 8pm, we step into a 1960s living room as the Moon Café comes alive with Space Age refreshments, swingin’ live music, and smooth company. 

So, with the spiel out the way I can tell you another excellent benefit stemming from this event... the fact that I get to dress for it!

My last post focused on 60s cocktail and lounge wear, which i have been finding some incredible pieces for (see above). But I'm also going through a phase of being obsessed with beautiful psychedelic prints. Including this pretty fab psychedelic paisley romper/swimsuit that I found on Etsy, coveted for quite a long while, and eventually bought (accordingly the next theme for GoGo Classes with The Beehives may be Beach Party or something similar).

^ And my great new shirt from awesome UK vintage seller Huzzar Huzzar. Always adore their stuff and this shirt was the winning combo of psych print + green + mod + SLEEVES!

To stick with my current late-60s-early-70s psych band statement piece theme... Flares. Pretty delighted to have discovered the great label Flare Street, which is based in Melbourne, right here in Australia. These are my first pair from them and I am already planning my 2nd and 3rd. Also convincing one of my best male friend's (and The Weapon is Sound front man) who is a bit of a Hendrix look alike that he needs to let me buy him a purple velvet pair with gold braiding up the sides. After all ... WWJD? (What Would Jimi Do?)

Another recent cheapy purchase - this killer mod polo bodysuit. Everything about it is so perfect I'll even forgive the snap crotch. While it isn't Ben Sherman, Fred Perry or John Smedley - it is an incredible cut and fit, and it cost lest than $20. Online mod clothes win.

And now to bring you a series I'm going to call: Smudgy Mirror Selfies. The great crime of any fashion blogger, I think, are bad outfit selfies - buy a DSLR! Get a tripod and a remote! OR... take awful smudgy mirror selfies because you can't be arsed getting stuff out and setting it up, or asking your boyfriend to take the shot.

 Pin-Up ridiculousness, with my American Apparel gold disco pants, and Pin Up Girl Clothing Deadly Dames top in black, with vintage black cowboy boots from Vintage Emporium in Maylands. Belted thrifted, earrings from The Retro Market.

 Mod Pirate meets Disco Hooker (Yes I'm actually happy about this). Belt from Flashback Vintage in Toronto, stockings from The Powder Room, Boots are Wittner, Blouse thrifted long ago and denim high waist shorts are Ziggy Denim (I think).

And one just for fun. My performer alter ego Lucy Watusi/Ella Jezebella all dressed up and ready to SCIENCE! Modeling for Dr Sketchy's Anti Art School as part of National Science Week. Coke + Mentos = fun. A very (VERY) last minute outfit/costume I ran around and put together. Lab coat borrowed, tartan suspenders and red bow tie by The Powder Room, Portmans skirt, lace collared blouse (unknown) and spectacles. And a beehive for all the extra science brains that wouldn't fit into my head. 

Sunday Stylist

So those that know me personally may know that I consider myself a Jack of All Trades (Master of None, somewhat). I'm hyperactive and like to be involved in a million projects at once - Must keep those plates spinning!

What? I'm a Lawyer, gogo dancing in an art gallery during the day - TAKE ME SRSLY!

I'm a 'qualified' stylist (for whatever that's worth) but generally refer to myself as a "Sunday Stylist". What I mean by this is that it's not my bread and butter. During the week I'm busy being a lawyer, either at my main firm or freelancing as part of the WA arm for the amazing folk at Creative Legal.

My nocturnal nights are spent doing admin for my boutique The Powder Room, and my weekends are spent performing or rehearsing with my GoGo troupe The Beehives. Add a few dance classes a week, a samba performance troupe, an emerging events company and a lovely (patient) boyfriend and that doesn't leave a lot of time for styling sessions - but every now and then, I find myself with a bit of time (often on a Sunday afternoon!), a cool concept and some amazing people to work with and I finally get to stretch my styling legs.

I've managed to snatch enough time to do a few great shoots lately, so I thought I'd share some images with you. I'm going to split this into a few posts as it's extensive - and maybe try and group them a bit according to style (conceptual/fun/high fashion/retro). Shall we start with Retro? Ok, I think we shall. Credits are as stated.

So you've probably picked up on my intense love of the 60s by now, no? Most recently I got to finally style a shoot that the wonderful photographer (Marti Hughes) and I had been discussing since we first met and instantly hit it off (bonding over being Irish - in my case, 'Irishish' - and laughing at other peoples stupidity).

We both love the mod era and culture and were keen to shoot. It took us an awfully long time to find our perfect model though (over a year) but when we found her, oh boy was she perfect.

The following are shots from a rainy sunday afternoon shoot in a Northbridge car park. I styled 3 looks, both Marti and other Perth photographer and all round nice guy Danny Reardon of Tomoboy photography were behind the lens, our beautiful pixie model Chloe Morien is also a talented make up artist and runs 'A Brush With Colour'  and the awesome Tim King responded to our call out for a fabulous 60s scooter. Thanks also to the fabulous Lisa Rodrigues over at Your Fashion for covering this shoot (and in the process kicking my butt into action to cover some of my own shoots!)

All clothing is either the stylists own, vintage or from The Powder Room.

Stay tuned for more styling work (I think I have a back log of about 11 shoots to put up!) And if you're ever bored, googling mod fashions has to be one of the BEST time wasters.

Style Stalker

So I am fortunate enough to be friends with many delicious women, from many different social circles, many of whom have a phenomenal sense of style. I thought it was about time I devoted a blog to some of these women (it may have to be an ongoing series; there's many of them) and their threads.

It should be noted that these women all have very different styles, and all of them appeal to me in some way. They range from modern to harcore vintage, from cute to fierce, and from casual to formal. The one thing that really strikes me about these women and how they dress, is that they always come across as totally comfortable in their own skin. Their style is an extension of their personalities and there is no pretense there.

All the following images are stalk-nabbed off of their facebooks, 'cos I'm a creeper like that. In fact one fabulous fashionista friend is missing only because she currenly has her facebook disabled, to concentrate on that Masters degree thing that's rather important).

Style Stalk One: Fiona

Fiona is a photographer so it was actually highly difficult to find photos of her where she was in FRONT of the camera. Fiona and I have boyfriends who are in a band together and whenever I see her out and about or at gigs I'm always blown away by how naturally chic she looks. I developed my love of bright, matte lipsticks from her. It helps that she is drop dead gorgeous. Pretty sure she could wear a sack and I'd be blogging about how hessian sacks are the next big thing... Aside from my self evident lady-boner for this girl I just love how her style is always a twist on mainstream fashion. She can wear something that is totally on trend, and still make it look totally her own; She wears her clothes, they don't wear her. She can also accessorise like a motherf*cker.

Style Stalk Two: Elly

Elly is possibly the cutest looking human in the history of humans. She is a burlesque and circus performer (her alter ego is the aptly named Clara Cupcakes) and is a vintage aficionado to boot. To my knowledge a lot of her fabulous vintage style frocks are handmade by her and her look is a supercute, almost cartoon take on 1920's - 1950's style (think a non-racist Betty Boop). She also wins at makeup and hair styling. I am equal parts impressed with and envious of her on a daily basis. Plus I'm a sucker for fairy floss hair (more recent pictures).

Doing her thing with Sugar Blue Burlesque

Style Stalk Three: Siahne

Sticking with the vintage theme and it would be wrong to post on elite vintage style in Perth without mentioning Siahne. Siahne is also a burly performer and it has to be said the her dedication to vintage fashion knows no equal. I myself have been at early Sunday morning rehearsals with this fine lady and she's still preened 50s style (while I'm lucky I remembered to put on pants). I've used Siahne as a model in shoots I've styled and I know now that it's always preferable to have her style her own hair and makeup, as she really has no equal. She is pretty much proof that when it comes to vintage glamour; Redheads are Queen.

  

Style Stalk Four: Adele

So far I've had friends that are cute, ultra vintage, chic and effortlessly cool. Now I have to flip that on it's head and refer to a lady friend who has just about the firecest style of anyone I know. Adele owns and runs the alternative fashion store, Beyond the Trapdoor Door (18 Forrest St, Subiaco). She is the queen of gothic, alternative and pin-up style fashions and has recently lead to my getting onboard with Black Milk (stay tuned for future blog entry). Adele still manages to look ultra feminine whilst looking dark and deadly. She's rocked coloured hair, studded wear and corsets since before the recent resurgence. She's also one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

Well that's my first 4 style-stalks. This will likely be a recurring series however as there are plenty more ladies on my friends-list to review and applaude. Of course next time I'll definitely have to include a gentleman or two...