alexa funks

Photo @ IsaacLikes

It's nice to know that style icon Alexa Chung agrees with me. Looking very stylish in her clogs at the Chanel Haute Couture show a few days ago.

x Alex

wow

Photography: Max Doyle

... but is this Vogue trying to become Russh? Whatever their inspiration, it has definitely worked. I love this cover.

x Olivia

style icon

We all have someone we wish we could swap lives (or wardrobes) with. For me Giovanna Battaglia is the epitome of quiet chic - she always looks effortlessly put together and polished in a way I can only dream of.

As the Fashion Editor of L'Uomo Vogue, she has access to the worlds most coveted labels, and their hero pieces, every season; yet she never looks overly flashly in a I'm-wearing -the-latest-Dior-dress-and-Alaia-shoes kind of way.  I've seen her around New York during fashion week and to me she's always stood out as someone I would love to grow up to be - quietly and seamlessly stylish, classy but never boring and sexy but never trashy.

x Olivia

book worm

Living an hour away from work, the best way to pass my time on the highly exciting train trip (rather than watching tree after tree) is to read. At the moment I'm reading Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. I've only read the first few chapters but so far I really like it. According to the inside cover, Sophie's World is a "fascinating conundrum, a novel of ideas that baffles, illuminates and delights. Woven into it...a complete history of Western philosophy that unravels and explores all the great mysteries of life, death and the world around us". Now if that doesn't make you want to read to read, I'm not sure what will...it's certainly a nice change from the many fashion magazines I spend my life reading anyway.

In between chapters I'm flicking through my usual dose of RUSSH - although I have a subscription, so I didn't get to choose the cover (I would have much preferred the Jacquelyn edition). Then there's Frankie - mainly because I like to check out the new submissions of the month. This issue I looove the oh-so-feminine, and slightly vintage, studio shoot with the lovely daisies printed on the backdrop. So sweet.

x Alex

street style

Photo: Olivia

I snapped the gorgeous Ivana Martyn-Zyznikow from Vivien's out and about in Paddington - she's wearing a Karen Walker lace top, Zara skirt and Marc jacobs bag.

x Olivia

to funk or not to funk?

Since Karl Largerfield sent his models strutting down country lane for Chanel's SS10 show, wearing footwear that took us back to our small years where pig tails and peddle pushers reigned supreme; the big question had to be asked (well it was in our cupboard anyway)...to funk or not to funk?

If you're a little confused by this question let me introduce you to the 'Funkis' - the modern day clog. In my opinion, a very cute day shoe that is so comfortable! (and a much cheaper ulternative to Chanel's). However, the arguement is very torn between the three of us, where Olivia "wouldn't be caught dead in them, whether Chanel has made them 'cool' or not", but she does think I can pull them off - thanks Liv. Hayley's friend wants a pair in yellow, although she's not totally convinced herself.

I bought my first pair of Funkis clogs about a year ago, and I love them. My answer is if Chanel can, I can.

Funkis clogs - availble nationwide at all Gorman stores

x Alex

monday

 Scanlan and Theodore cape, Alexander Wang singlet, Denim and Thread jeans, Stella McCartney shoes,  Givenchy Nightingale bag.

x Hayley

quote of the day

Photos via The Lovely Alexa

"I want to bring back forties tea dresses and sixties mod dresses. . . . I want to bring cute back” - Alexa Chung on her Alexa Chung for Madwell label.

Can i just say, hallelujah - I can't wait for the pieces to hit stores in September. Hopefully girls on this side of the ditch will take a leaf out of Alexa's book - if you've ever been to Hugo's in Kings Cross on a Sunday night, you'll know what I mean.

x Olivia

chronicles of zoe and natalie

Zoe (in focus above) and Natalie (in focus below), from NO magazine # 8

Zoe Walker and Natalie Smith are writers and best friends. Zoe writes for New Zealand's Viva -The New Zealand Herald's fashion magazine every New Zealander looks forward to on a Wednesday; and Natalie writes for countless magazines including Russh and NO.

I met Zoe when I started interning at Fashion Quarterly, so obviously I met Natalie not long after. They are both so lovely, kind and so much fun to hang out with. I don't get to see them very often as they both live in Auckland, so I live vicariously through their lovely blog So Much to Tell You. While they're usually the one's asking the questions, I decided to ask them a few questions of my own (and made sure they didn't peek at each others answers)...

How did you become to be friends?

Zoe: I was working at a fashion website called Runway Reporter and Natalie came in for an interview as the site's social photographer. I remember that I thought she looked quite intimidating! After the interview, I had to take her out to an event to see how she did and report back to my editor; once I actually spoke to her I thought that she was really funny and nice and not intimidating at all. She got the job, and we slowly bonded over morning coffee runs and fashion returns.

talented mr raubenheimer

Image photographed and created by Bruce Raubenheimer
Ballerina sketch by Hatem

My boyfriend spends a lot of his time 'chilling'.  He's a model and when he's not in front of the camera he lives a mostly leisurely life of  castings and coffees.

I often come home to half-made chairs (his latest exploration is furniture design), some sort of nifty gadget he has whipped up, or an amazing gourmet meal with sauce all over the walls - generally I come home to some sort of creative mess.  Last night was no exception with a very odd set-up on our dining room table; I was pleasantly surprised by this beautiful image he created using my Chloe perfume and one of my favourite vintage rings - he's a Photoshop extraordinaire.

x Olivia

my dream t

If you read our blog, then you'll know I have the whole nautic/benton stripe obsession thing going on. But for the last few months I have been on the hunt for a YSL or Chanel basic t-shirt. It has now become my daily ritual to trawl through countless websites and blogs to find my dream t. It looks like the closest I'm going to get to having the real deal is obsessing over this amazing editorial from Vogue Nippon. Ps. if you know where I can find my dream t, pretty please let me know.

x Hayley

i'll have what she's having...yum

My birthday is a good six months away, but I think it would be rude not to get the party started a little earlier. I'm definitely putting my order in for a Vogue cover birthday cake, (a French cover non the less) . Now which cover should I go with...hmmmmm.

X Hayley

coco in motion

I don't usually stop to watch video's on the internet, I'm too lazy. However recently my boyfriend has been showing me some very funny and clever stop motion films on You Tube - the best being Western Spaghetti by PES.

Here's a Chanel-filled stop motion film made for V magazine's 62nd issue, directed by Stephen Smith, that I think you'll all enjoy.

x Olivia

wednesday

Vintage top, Karen Walker skirt, Mimco bangle, YSL boots

x Alex

self service

No words are really needed to express the way I feel about French magazine, Self Service. All I have to say is - très amazing.

x Hayley

inspiration of the day

A new W magazine editorial styled by Alex White, with lots and lots of looks to inspire even the most unmotivated dresser on a Monday morning.

x Olivia

stop traffic

I can't decide whether these Kirkwood X Rodarte heels are incredible works of art, or really really ugly...

x Olivia

je lis

While I'm trying to improve my French with Vogue Paris as my exercise tool, I'm currently reading Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's - this is a must-read for any of you that loved the movie.   It's written in the point of view of Fred, who tells the story of a blonde (!) Holly Golightly. The book gives you much more insight into Holly's character than the movie ever could - not to mention the book ends completely differently...I won't say anything more, other than I couldn't put it down.

x Olivia

pep talk

The fashion cupboard often resembles the story of The Wizard of Oz, where the line between the real world and the fashion world can become very blurred.

Whether you've just started interning or you're working as a fashion assistant, instead of trying to click your red glittery heels to find your way home, try to remember these few things (they will help to stop you from going insane)...

+Self value is most important - don't let anyone make you doubt it.
+For goodness sake, shoes are shoes - life goes on.
+It's true we learn from our mistakes, it sucks sometimes but it's what makes us stronger, and trust me, all the more wiser.
+Don't forget to treat people how you would want to be treated on the way up the ladder, because you will more often than not meet them again on the way back down.
+Every exit is an entrance to somewhere else.
+Don't be afraid to speak out, it's what gets you heard.

and lastly...
+Happiness is a way of travel, not just a destination.

x Alex
p.s apologies for my late post, I feel like the naughty kid who hasn't done their homework.

i'd do anything...

Over our morning coffee, Hayley, Alex and I got talking about the lengths we would go to to get our hands on a 2.55 Chanel handbag.

Alex walked past the Chanel store on Castleraugh Street yesterday, subconsciously thinking to herself she would definitely sell her soul for the classic black version. Hayley and her girlfriend are saving up to fly to Paris, so when they buy their first 2.55 they can experience the whole shebang at 31 Rue Cambon - apparently the friend is 26 payments away from making that dream a reality...Hayley on the other hand is closer to a number she would rather not disclose (hey, one can dream). Me, well I do have a very good looking asset that would sell well on the black market in the form of a model boyfriend... (just joking baby).

What would you do for your ultimate hangbag?

x Olivia