STORE REVIEW – CHRISTINE
February 18th, 2010Starting her buying career while working at the original Georges Department store, Christine decided it was time to open her own store after the second incarnation of Georges was unsuccessful. That was some 10 years ago now and with her inside industry knowledge, a large client following and the pizzazz to pull it off, Christine opened up one of Melbourne’s most exclusive and illustrious accessories boutique right in the heart of the Flinders Quarter.
If you don’t already know about Christine, you could be forgiven, but only just. Tucked away in a basement, and with no over the top signage to tell the world of her existence, Christine clearly wants you to find her and not the other way around. In fact I only discovered this accessories paradise when I walked past it one day many years ago and was drawn in by the red tartan carpet at the entrance. Continuing down the tartan covered staircase, I quickly realized that this is no ordinary boutique. With gilded mirrors on the walls, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and the most jaw dropping range of accessories you will lay your eyes upon, it was not long before I had to acknowledge that I was Alice who has just found Wonderland.
And it’s no wonder that Christine is in the same laneway as some of Melbourne’s best commercial art galleries, for her range of designer jewellery are truly works of art in themselves. With names like Tom Binns, Vivienne Westwood, Erickson Beamon and Donatella Pellini, Christine has the most exciting range of costume jewellery this side of the Equator.
But let’s not forget her range of handbags, shoes, hats and clothes from designers such as Anya Hindmarch, Sonia Rykiel, Pauric Sweeney and Philip Treacy. But her ‘Pièce de résistance’ would have to be her range of Lanvin accessories. At their insistence, Christine is the exclusive stockist of Lanvin accessories in Melbourne and always has the best selection of their latest collection.
With her Motto “Everything from the affordable to the aspirational”, the accessories that Christine carries not only come from the best designers, (Milan, Paris, the UK, Australia & Ney York) but they are made from the best quality. In addition everything that she stocks is hand chosen by Christine herself, so her clients can be assured that whatever they purchase will not be a one season item, but will be an investment piece that they can build upon.
So if you are looking for a statement piece of jewellery, beautiful designer handbag or hat to wear to the Spring Carnival, sculpted stiletto, or runway style outfit, then the next time you are strolling down Flinders Lane please do yourself a HUGE favour and walk the red carpet down to Christine. You will be so glad that you did and will most definitely come away with a new appreciation for accessories.
Christine is located at Basement 181 Flinders Lane, Melbourne (between Swanston & Russell Streets) Tel: (03) 9654 2011
DESIGNER REVIEW: dot&herbey
February 7th, 2010dot&herbeyare located at 229 Barkly St, ST KILDA phone (03) 9593 6309 Web: http://www.dotandherbey.com Email: sam@dotandherbey.com Dot & Herbey also stocks: Hudson Jeans - www.hudsonjeans.com/ Birgit Holdinghausen - http://studioingot.com.au/BHC.html Only Midge leather accessories - http://www.onlymidge.com.au/ Fibre Red knitwear - http://www.fibrered.com.au/![]()
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STREET STYLE - February 2010
January 31st, 2010The following photos were taken at the Sportsgirl Winter 10 collection check it out at http://www.sportsgirl.com.au/style-me/
Prue is looking gorgeous in head to toe Sportsgirl
Her over the knee boots are on sale now!
Lady Melbourne is wearing her own designs
including the matching accessories. Hers shoes are by
Verali and her bag is by Siricco
(watch out for my up and coming review of her label)
Andy is looking summer sparkly with a hint
of nautical - all Sportsgirl of course
Kate is another all Sportsgirl wild child
Finally we have Hayley - another street style
fashion blogger from 'Melbourne Street Fashion'.
Hayley is wearing a great Gorman dress,
necklace by Make Believe and statement bow
by Hopeless Hotel
STORE REVIEW: DEZ’S DISPENSARY
January 24th, 2010
email dez@dezdispensary.com.au www.dezdispensary.com.au Links LTB Jeans - www.ltbjeans.com Hussy - www.hussy.com.au You Vs Me - www.youvsme.com.au Texas Johnny - www.texas-johnny.com.au Memo fashion - www.memofashion.com Keyng - www.keyng.com.my Elly M - www.ellym.com Carl Kapp - www.carl.net.au
Hussy dress-$398 pure silk
Status Top -$169
Key NG shirt -$145
Carl Kapp dress- $990 Italian silk
Zed by DEZ-$600 hand beadedDESIGNER REVIEW – SPRINKLE EMPORIUM
January 13th, 2010I first met the highly versatile Sprinkle Magic in 1992 at the then known Maleny Folk Festival (now known as the Woodford Folk Festival). We were both going through our feral, punk stage – me with a shaved head and piercings and her with a stall selling her crazy hats – which coincidentally I was given as a birthday gift. Now much older and wiser, both of us have not only evolved into the mature, stylish and highly evolved women that we are today, but now I have my own fashion blog and Sprinkle now has her own unique label and boutique store, aptly named Sprinkle Emporium.
Coming from a family of tailors, Cossack dancers and cobblers, it seems obvious that fashion is in Sprinkle’s blood. And while she has never been to design school, and her sewing expertise comes from home economic classes, Sprinkle has defied the odds and forged a successful career for herself in the world of costume design and high class fashion.
But how does one go from being an amateur designer who works from their lounge room to a professional designer with a studio, label and a boutique? Well it doesn’t happen overnight!
After years of hard work to get her designs in various boutiques around town like Queen, Sprinkle spent an additional 4 years as a tenant the Brunswick Business Incubator, under the guise of a new and emerging business. While there she not only received expert advice, services and support to help her grow and develop her business so that it could become established and profitable, but she was also given the opportunity to define her target market and position herself correctly in the competitive world of fashion.
She obviously did something right because Sprinkle Emporium officially opened its doors to the public in 2007 and since then she has gone from strength to strength. Not only has she received a grant from the Textile Clothing and Footwear Small Business Program to assist with the smooth running of the business, but last year she won the ‘Business of the Year’ ‘Fashion’ and ‘New Business’ sections in the Moreland Leader Business Achievement Awards.
So what kind of fashion does Sprinkle create you ask? Well in a nutshell, stunning dresses, skirts, pants and tops with a classic 30’s and 40’s feel that ‘real women’ can wear. Her garments are not only designed to flatter an hourglass figure but are made with beautiful fabrics that sit perfectly on a size 8 – 18 body. And best of all she is another designer who has all of her clothing made right here in Melbourne.
Her boutique now also houses an eclectic array of local and interstate made accessories ranging from hand made silver jewellery, Swarovski crystal rings, resin necklaces, and cut out brooches to corsages, fascinators, shoe clips and handbags.
And on a final note, her summer collection is a must see for anyone who loves tailored, well made clothing. Not only is the theme for this collection ‘Birds of Paradise’, but she has the most exquisite hand drawn images of a peacock and butterflies printed onto several of her garments – courtesy of artist and textile designer Timothy Growcott.
So do yourself a favour and get down to Sprinkle Emporium, even if it just to see the red velvet wallpaper, custom metal fixtures, beautiful wood and metal counter or her collection of 1950’s cat statuettes, you will not be disappointed.
As one Sprinkle Emporium fan has written “This boutique is far from ordinary… it is the place where fashion melds with art!”
P.S Sprinkle’s up and coming winter collection is called ‘Sherlock meets Zsa Zsa’ and is a mix of plaids and leopard prints – sounds very exciting to me!
Sprinkle Emporium stocks the following labels:
Sharon Nam Riley Burnett Safari Lee Debora De Stefanis Naomi Levi Valdes Paws and Effect Jude Designs Echoiic Images Kalliopi Lucille & Jeannie Unique CreationsSprinkle Emporium is located at 108 Lygon St, East Brunswick PH: 03 93879262




STREET STYLE January 2010
January 8th, 2010Happy New Year Fashionistas and I am sure this year is going to see some hot fashion designs on the runways, stores and on the streets of our fair city. I for one know that I will be out and about keeping my eyes peeled for the most stylish people wearing the most stylish clothes, shoes and accessories this year. To kick things off here is the latest in summer street style, as well as reviews of 1 wonderful and unique Melbourne Designer who also has her own boutique - Sprinkle Emporium plus a review of another great boutique Dez's Dispensary. So be sure to have a read, check out these stores and get your stylish selves out on the streets so The Contessa can take your photo! xxx


STREET STYLE #1
December 11th, 2009Welcome to the first edition of 'Street Style' where I bring real fashion from the streets of Melbourne to you - the reader! Look out for my blog in the New Year as there will be heaps more reviews and interviews as well as loads more images from the streets. Until then Merry Xmas and Happy New Year. Have fun and remember, however you celebrate make sure you do it in style. Love The Contessa xxx


Designer Review: Mozom ‘I DARE YOU’
December 2nd, 2009Maurizio Venturato is a local and talented jewellery designer who has been involved in the Fashion industry for over 20 years. Not only has he been everything from a model, diamond merchant and merchandiser to clothes designer and stylist, but for the last 6 years he has been the face behind his own jewellery label - Mozom ‘I DARE YOU’. This glamorous label began when Maurizio, or Moz as he is affectionately called by his friends, was working as a diamond merchant in Melbourne.
After realising his clients were wanting more than the boredom of just one expensive stone on their hand, in true daring style, he decided to create couture opulent costume designs at affordable prices. He then dared his female clients to see if they were brave enough to wear his unique pieces of art, and soon found out that the answer to his dare was a resounding YES! Demand for his pieces quickly became overwhelming and that’s when the label Mozom ‘I DARE YOU’ was created.
I stumbled across Maurizio’s stunning pieces about 2 years ago when doing some styling work with the Dizingof label, and have loved his designs ever since. Not only has Mozom ‘I DARE YOU’ gone from strength to strength since its inception, but now celebrities such as Ricki Lee, Lillian Frank, Rhys Uhlich and Dean Geyer, just to name a few are wearing Mozom Designs. Maurizio’s latest range, which is on sale now, features leather, swarovski crystals, ribbons and rope. Not only have his pieces been created with a touch of glamour, opulence and uniqueness in mind, but they are guaranteed to be unique, fabulous and ….daring of course!
But men never fear, for Mozom Designs does not cater exclusively to women any longer. For the man that also wants to be dared, Maurizio has designed Mozom ‘DARE TO BARE’. He has also most recently branched out into the area of millinery. Is there no stopping him?
Finally Maurizio’s style tip for the summer season?
For women - lavish yourselves with ribbons and rope of all textures and incorporate it with vintage brooches and lashings of tassels.
For men - wrap your wrists and neckline with leather and soften the look with quirky bright silver charms. Ps: Do not forget your ankles as they need attention too.
As for next year’s races, be warned! No feathers are to be used create your next hat or fascinator. Instead assorted fabrics, textured ribbons and unique beads will adorn your head.
So with the Christmas season just around the corner, there is no better excuse to go out and buy yourself some summer bling and no better way to dazzle your family and friends than with a piece of Mozom jewelery – if you dare!
Mozom’ I DARE YOU’ Jewelery/Accessories/Millinery for women is available at Dizingof stores. www.dizingof.com
Mozom’ DARE TO BARE’ for men is available at:
Depot Menswear
210 Bridge Road
Richmond
Couture is made to order and Maurizio can be contacted on 0417 500 099


Mozom 'I DARE YOU' for women


Mozom 'DARE TO BARE' for men







