Melbourne’s heat surely turned up a notch. It was ridiculously hot, but that didn’t cramp their style.
Though monochrome is still dominating the streets of VAMFF, it was great to see a mix of eye-catching colour and textures tonight.
Here are some of my faves…x
All images are copyright licensed to Karen Woo. Please email hello@karenwoo.com.au for permission, thank you x
With the new venue set at the Royal Exhibition Building, the highly anticipated fashion event has officially begun! I couldn’t be more excited to capture the style on the streets, and from what I’ve seen – pleats, fringes, high knee boots and strappy heels were the common threads.
Thanks for all the snaps, and it was great seeing a few new faces and catching up with everyone. Enjoy the highlights pre-David Jones opening runway show!
Images taken by Karen Woo. Please email hello@karenwoo.com.au for copyright licensing usage. Thank you so much xx
It really isn’t that hard to believe that we do live in one of the world’s most liveable city. Melbourne is the epicentre of coffee, food, art, sport and music culture. Over the past years, I’ve noticed a peak increase of cars jamming up our roads, housing prices sky rocketing, childcare waiting lists nearing 2 years and blogging becoming the norm, the way of life.
I recently finished reading this biography book, “In order to live” by a young North Korean girl called YEONMI PARK who recalls her tale about the hardships, the starvation, the violence and propaganda she had to endure, in order to fight for freedom. She was “living on the edge” practically everyday. Though her struggles were incomparable to my life – but it’s a reminder to me to stop complaining, take a moment and appreciate all the little things. I need to remind myself daily to count every blessing, every experience with the biggest gratitude and smile. It’s always good to put things back into perspective and not get caught up in this fickle world of materialism.
So how fitting it was when Eureka Skydeck88, the Edge invited Melanie (@theTiaFox) and I to see and capture Melbourne at a different perspective. It was actually something I’ve been meaning to do for a long while but never made time for it, even when I lived at Eureka back in 2008! We rocked up at 4pm (tips: park at Crown, and wait till sunset), took the elevator to the 88th floor and stepped into the Edge which slowly pulled out from the building. Before we knew it, we were suspended nearly 300 meters over Melbourne city in a glass cube – glass walls, ceiling and floor, and we had 10 whole minutes to ourselves.
Though I wished we just stood there and soak in the majestic city views, we were too busy scrambling around the cube for the quickest fashion shoot EVER! But seriously it was all worth it. I’ll do anything for great snaps.
Enjoy xx
Just imagining what my office life be like on SkyDeck88 – haha!
MELANIE is wearing BCBGMXAZRIA blazer and detachable skirt // TONY BIANCO strappy heels
I’m wearing VIKTORIA + WOODS ribbed knit dress // H&M denim shirt // BEAU COOPER mules
Here’s that time again where I got my camera out to spot my favourite Melbourne Central’s shopper’s looks, just in time for VAMFF next week!
Looking forward to seeing you all xx
Want to know what understated elegance looks like? Well look no further. Adam has just arrived from England and brought along a slice of Euro-chic with him. His blue and white stripe t-shirt, navy chinos and white kicks are staples needed in everyone’s summer wardrobe.
Sarah’s impeccable fits is super modern and chic. A white ribbed knit, black trousers and white leather sneakers are versatile staples that are a perfect base for layering. For example, we can throw on a smart fitted blazer, or a cropped leather jacket, or even long vest to add substance to this basic look.
Boys, its time to fold away your skinny jeans and chinos for a pair of wide legged trousers. Wide legged trousers are becoming increasingly popular in the fashion realm; they allow unrestricted movement whilst ensuring comfort. I love Jerry’s pairing of a cropped shirt, which maintains a balance of proportions.
Elka reminds me of a modern cowgirl in the best way possible. I love her denim jacket tied around her waist to show off her waistline and it creates a nice contrast of colour to the black corduroy overall worn underneath.
Now if this look ain’t fly, I don’t know what is. Niu Niu’s choice of denim overalls and Marc Jacob flatform derbys are playful and cool at the same time. They also capture the essence of street wear, just like what her sweatshirt says.
There is nothing I enjoy more than an effortless look like the one Lori has put together. The loose trench coat paired with cuffed light denim and white converse kicks are great for casual hangs and outings. The look is the perfect reflection of the everyday Aussie girl.
I appreciate the reinforced pattern’s on Jun Gyu’s bomber zip-up and t-shirt. They make great examples of what I consider ‘’elevated-basics.”
Dapper gents alert! Adrian’s look encapsultated Melbourne’s booming menswear appreciation. The light blue open collared shirt screams summer and the pin and pocket square adds a nice splash of colour to his cream double-breasted jacket.
Fringes on fringes, from the hem, to the bag to the last detail on Cynthia’s pair of loafers. Cynthia may not be a dancer but the fringing compliments her movement as she waltz across the streets of Melbourne.
Yeezus himself would most likely nod to Josh’s street steeze. Black on black is a classic combo, but it could also get a little tiring. Josh keeps it 100% with a pair of distressed denim and the red bomber makes the outfit lens-catching.
Accessories are where it’s at to turn a simple outfit into a great outfit. The indigo bandana tied around Anna’s neck and round sunnies are cute tidbits that we can draw style inspiration from.
Sophia’s pin-strip overalls and denim shirt is a fun and quirky match. However you are probably just like me, I can’t stop looking at her cute Charlotte Olympia loafers!
The back of Yolanda’s denim shirt says ‘London, Paris and Berlin’ – three of the worlds undisputed fashion capitals. She’s putting Melbourne on the map with her funky street fit. I love her knitted dress that is styled with white sneakers, and a white cap worn backwards. Her pink Furla bag is definitely an eye-catcher.
Terri keeps it cozy in her loose trench and voluminous trousers. Her tribal necklace and neutral sliders are great additions.
Images by KAREN WOO
Words by JERRY SHIEH
Images by Karen Woo
Creative Direction by Tiffany Newman of This Within
Influencer: Steve Calder of Calder brand.
Steve, tell us a bit about yourself and where you are from.
I was born in New Zealand and migrated to Melbourne with my family when i was young. I grew up in the city outskirts, where the culture is somewhat centralised. By that I mean many people who grow up there don’t really leave the place. Luckily, when I was 17, one of my early retail jobs moved me into a store in the CBD. After I had a taste of “big city life”, I knew that travel and exploration was a passion of mine. Since moving out of home at 19 I have made a point of traveling to as many places as possible, and do my best to learn about different local cultures and languages.
Has style always been an interest of yours? What inspires your style?
Since age 15, when I first began seeking a sense of individuality, style has always been an interest of mine. I have drawn my inspiration from many different sources over the years, often from a clash of worlds. For example in high school I was in a tight-jeans-wearing rock band, and at the same time I was working one of my first jobs at a tiny store selling conservative formalwear!
These days, while designing for my new brand Calder, I try to look inward and use my own imagination and mood to put my own spin on Italian-inspired menswear. So far (touch wood) it has been well received!
How has the landscape of Melbourne influenced your own personal aesthetic over the years?
I’ve been around the world a bit, and can confidently say that Melbourne is a very unique city in almost every way. The Melbourne landscape itself seems to draw on inspiration from other cities worldwide, and has been purposefully planned and laid out in a way that creates it’s own new-wave of city life. I believe the culture in our city is a relaxed one, coupled with very high standards for food, coffee and to an extent entertainment. The Menswear movement in Melbourne still has a long way to come, however the front-runners of Men’s Style here focus on high standards of dress in the same way as coffee and cuisine. I’m talking about awareness of the true nature of quality and a willingness to learn about intricate details. Where are the fabrics sourced? How is this garment actually made? These are questions that members of the growing local Menswear Movement are asking. So, in a similar way, I believe that I have had the same kind of need for knowledge and high standards instilled in me through Melbourne culture, which I believe is a product of the planned landscape of our city.
Tell us about your previous roles in the menswear industry. How have these roles influenced your own aesthetic?
Over the years my work has covered such a wide spectrum of menswear and style, from Streetwear to ‘60s Mod Rock to High Fashion, and classic Italian Sartorialism. Many different lifestyles are associated with each concept of “style,” and one can wildly differ from the other. What I love is that all of these concepts of style happily co-exist. As a modern male, I can easily incorporate streetwear on weekends, tailoring on weekdays and a healthy dose of sportswear throughout my life. I believe that although this type of viewpoint is the way of the future, only someone who truly appreciates the clothing they wear can rise above the “trends” that big brands are pushing.
Looking ahead, one of my goals is to help others appreciate the reality of style and show them how to truly look their best, without necessarily having to focus on the “hottest item of the moment.”
Take us through typical day for a guy like you in the menswear world?
For me, every day is different, so this is quite hard to answer. The “menswear world” can take on many different meanings. The only real consistencies in my day involve taking my time getting up in the morning (not a morning person), including carefully ironing a shirt, selecting an outfit (usually prepared in my head the night before) and giving the day’s shoes a quick polish. During the day you’ll find me possibly catching up with mates for a bite and some sartorial discourse. Coffee is always present too!
Tell us more about your new venture ‘Calder’ – how much of Melbourne’s landscape & culture has impacted you with regards to this project?
After over a decade immersing myself in the menswear industry, I am super excited to announce the launch of my new Made-To-Measure Brand. Calder provides unique tailoring for local Australians, with a Neapolitan soul. Every garment is carefully hand-made in Southern Italy, a fact I am very proud of. My inspiration is drawn from a focus on the relaxed nature of our city, coupled with high standards and attention to detail that we have become accustomed to in other parts of our life.
I believe a strong Italian influence is evident in Melbourne’s general culture, and that is partly why I have chosen to take on the Italian aesthetic and adapt it to my garments (the other part is, well, I just love the way the Italians do it!). The Calder brand will launch in March, a moment I am looking forward to.
Thank you Steve for incredible editorial collaboration, and we wish you all the success that you deserve for the Calder brand! xx
