I’ve stopped telling people I’m a blogger and it seems , so have all my peers. It’s better to say you’re a writer, a creative director, a photographer or an editor, anything dear God but a blogger. It’s not that being a blogger means that you don’t do all of these jobs simultaneously but blogging has become such a dirty word, on par with influencer, or Instagram model, sending people I’ve just met into disbelief, confusion or laughter. Unless they are under 25 and then it’s : how do I get into this game? : )

For those of you that have no background on me, I was late to this newfound career as a mum and model , 0 tech abilities, experimenting with writing and taking pictures. Hence the Empirical in My Empirical Life. If I had ever guessed this website would last this long, I would’ve gone for something way more simple. ( Me on the phone every day: no, it’s not Imperial, it’s Empirical, E.M.P.I.R.I.C.A.L. Uhuh, it’s a word that means something verifiable on the basis of observation and experimentation. You’re right it is an obscure word that no one can spell.)  As luck would have it , it turned out this private blog I thought I was running as an experiment in finding myself was wholly public due to my lack of tech prowess . I was doing some interviews ,socials and travel but it was when I threw in an outfit post Vogue Australia noticed my stuff and asked me to become a part of their blogging team. Eeeek! So exciting and nerve wrecking!  I really didn’t know how to use a camera properly back then and it was all shot by myself, on a tripod. I felt like a total impostor. There were amazing women doing this job as an actual pre-planned career, with goals and diaries. Talk about a steep learning curve.

In the background of all of this, my relationship with my partner of 11 years and the father of my child was crumbling as it became crushingly clear we wouldn’t be able to fix it. There was a point after we sold the house and split where I was trying to find a place for my daughter and cat Tiger, and it was proving difficult as nobody wanted a pet. While looking for our home, we moved around airbnbs ,even a hotel for weeks. All this time, however, my  Instagram feed was perfect. It didn’t matter that my world was shattered, I was now a single mum who was working hard to feed my kid and provide her with everything she needed. Throwing myself into my job, I was fortunate to be supported by great opportunities. All of a sudden, I was working 9-5 at events, meetings, and shoots , then getting my kid from school and feeding her, putting her to bed and doing all the back end like writing, editing and posting till 2 or 3 am. The amazing portion of my job, the one that is Instagram perfect is incredible guys. I cannot tell you how lucky I feel whenever I walk into an event perfectly set up by a bunch of talented people, the excitement of putting on a beautiful dress or organizing a shoot with many cool components. In those moments, I am still a little girl playing dress ups ,imagining creating photo shoots and MTV videos, dreaming of a future in which I got to have beautiful things and an exciting life. No one saw the other side of my break up bar my closest friends; the struggle to keep it all together, the stress and pressure, the health issues.

Yes, I got everything I wanted when I was a little girl. The beautiful things, the exciting life, the opportunity to travel and have fun. I was a model for 17 years before this job so my life can truly be perceived as glamorous. Don’t get me wrong. I think fashion is art and I am excited to work in this industry. It brings me joy as any of my other passions do. I’m excited by it and I know you guys are too if you’ve read my blog before – fashion is a big part of my life that I love but to only talk about fashion when our world is in such a place of transition right now seems superficial.

I get Insta DMs from women struggling with their relationships, families or careers and asking me for tips on how to look perfect whilst going through it all. It makes me cry because I feel like I add on to the illusion that this is possible or even necessary. I know that living with designer bags and clothes won’t make you happy unless you are happy on the inside because I have been there and done that. I know that Instagram isn’t real life because I am privy to how perfection is manufactured, but do others? There are many pertinent questions we should be asking ourselves right now. We all must be the change.

Once on a shoot in America long before Me Too as a young model, I suggested to the photographer that we shoot the other way, a little bit backlit, how nice that would look in a white dress and he loudly guaffed that no body asked for my opinion, that I should just stand there and look pretty as half the set sniggered. He put me back into my place and it always stuck with me after that, this fear of holding back my opinion in order to be liked externally, by the wider world. Even though I didn’t even admire this guy’s talent, for some reason I internalized this fear.

Looking back on why I created My Empirical Life , it was to prove that guy wrong; it was so I could explore all the things I learn in this life, all my passions, joys and opinions that are constantly changing and growing. But what did I do when my perfect family life derailed ? I didn’t feel that my opinion on life was worth a mention anymore, so I choked down the hard parts and concentrated on the shiny sides of my life only, forgetting the difficult, messy, human bit. I may have gotten everything I had wanted as a little girl, but did I feed my soul as a grown woman? What message was this sending not only to myself but to the world?

Now to address some of the most frequent DMs I get about blogging :

How do I get into blogging?

Just start doing it! Take pictures, write, express yourself and put it up for the world to see. Whatever industry you want to get into; get closer to it, immerse yourself in it. Start wherever you can, so that you can get an inside look and be educated on the intricacies. When you know something, then you can turn it inside out. Picasso was actually a classically trained artist and painter before he got into cubism. People that aren’t educated on the industry they work in give it a bad name ( cough cough, some Instagram models and Influencers )

What is the best way to gain followers?

I believe the new Instagram algorithm is geared toward constant interaction and frequent posting. I do feel for people that are starting now as it feels so much harder these days to get the numbers up, however it’s hard for people with large accounts too-once you cross a certain number threshold, Instagram only shows your content to 5-10% of your followers. You must create engaging content, engage all day across your channel, choose good hashtags and post at least 1-3 times per day- this gets you up in the feed. I don’t like it personally. In a time where we are supposed to be getting more mindful and screen free, Instagram seems to be pushing drugs. I can’t take it too seriously . I can’t bear to put #instagraminfluencer under my picture. So maybe people don’t find me. Oh well. I prefer beautifully executed content that takes time to create over quantity. Instagram doesn’t. C’est la vie.

Do you get to keep the clothes? Do you get a lot of gifts?

When I was first starting out in this industry, blogging felt like Christmas. All this stuff! All the time! It was amazing. Yet, I discourage people from gifting me things now that I expressly didn’t agree to receiving and I don’t guarantee exposure because I am too time poor. I appreciate it and I am grateful, yet if I won’t use it, then it becomes a liability that I feel bad about because I won’t post anything on it and someone lovingly created it. It is someone’s masterpiece and yet it is not for me personally. So I end up sending a lot of stuff back which makes me feel terrible, or I gift it to people around me. It’s really important to me that everything I post reflects my personal style and lifestyle and is a genuine reflection of my preferences. Because I have been in this industry for over 20 years, sometimes designers that are old friends will gift me something I like as a thank you for creating editorials with their clothes and I do appreciate this because it is stuff that I know I will cherish for a long time to come. I love receiving new make up because I love experimenting with it and don’t have much time for store shopping. I especially love it when people ask if I’d like them to send me organic beauty products, supplements or homewares, because this is the stuff that I love the most and spend a ridiculous amount of money on. I will also make a concerted effort to support new brands that I love with coverage, ones that don’t have money yet to spend on socials. The “stuff” part of my job is really amazing and I feel incredibly #blessed. Stuff doesn’t pay rent though!

Do you get paid for every picture?

No, I don’t get paid for every picture or every mention. I don’t even get paid for every blog post. Editorial jobs take about a week to source, produce, shoot, edit and post and if they are just a creative project and not sponsored, they don’t make money. I got into this business to be creative, so it’s important to me to create content that inspires me and my followers. I know my job is to show you new clothes on the market and how to wear them. My job is to create beautiful imagery ,support designers and get the word out. However my job is to keep me inspired too and I forgot that for a while. After my break up, I was so worried about being a single mum and paying all the bills that I took on a lot of paid work, yet after a while, I started feeling like I wasn’t happy or fulfilled. Some bloggers only do paid jobs. Some bloggers sell anything. And I get it- it’s a business. But for me; only paid work makes me miserable and selling something I wouldn’t use isn’t possible. I get when people have influencer fatigue and feel like stuff is always pushed on them. However, if you enjoy what this person you follow creates, you should support them when they partner up with a brand- they are humans that need to make a living too. I will always add a #collab #allignment or #partnership notice to let you know what I am getting paid for and the brands that pay me will be ones I believe in promoting as well.

Do brands tell you what to say?

Sometimes brands will outline a message they would like to put out there but I always reserve the right to speak my own words and enforce it too.

Who takes your photos? How long does a shoot take?

I take a bunch of my own photos on my Nikon D750, a tripod and wireless remote, especially while travelling, but my friends are photographers and my daughter knows her way around a camera too ; ). I love working with new photographers though, so if you are one, send me your work! Usually, if a blog post takes longer than 3 hours to shoot, we are doing something wrong. I know how to set up a shoot and move fast, so if something isn’t working, I tend to move to a way that does quickly. If an insta post takes longer than 5-10 minutes to shoot, the idea is bad. I tend to shoot my posts with a professional camera as I feel it’s actually quicker to shoot pictures in which the light adjusting has already been done. You’d be surprised how long some of those phone pictures that look like they are just shot off the cuff with a phone really took to shoot.

Wearing a Camilla & Marc top, Valet earrings, Avenue The Label scrunchie, Giorgio Armani Lipstick in matte 600, Ole Lynggaard and Jordan Askill rings

x

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO BEACHES, RESTAURANTS + THINGS TO SEE AND DO

I debated writing this story as I really didn't want any more people to go to the island I have been taking my annual summer vacation on for the last 14 years and yet all my squirrelling away was foiled with the release of Mamma Mia 2 

 

Even though the island portrayed in the movie pretends to be set in Greece, it is really the island of Vis, a place far away from mainland Croatia in the indigo of the Adriatic sea scented by pine and wild flowering herbs. So how could anyone have kept something so magical a secret for so long?


Exploring a monastery in Thomas Puttick

Even though it was under siege throughout history, the 20th century saw the Yugoslav army seal the island off to the public in order to expand the military bases so it sank into obscurity for decades. Yet even with the fall of Yugoslavia, tourist invasion never came due to distance, as people tend to seek immediate gratification or flashier, more famous islands.


Catching up on books at Srebrna beach in Zimmermann

Stay
There are two harbour towns on the island. Vis town is the main port but do stay a 20 minute walk away in Kut, a 16th century stone cobbled hamlet where flowering capers climb walls, grandmas sell wine out of their basement and kids run the streets unsupervised. It’s as Adriatic as it used to be yet trendy restaurants and bars now dot the streets too. On the other side of the island there is Komiza, an old fisherman town where men still repair their nets by hand, streets drop off into the ocean and sunset swims are a must. The rest of the island is dotted with tiny villages, vineyards and beautiful little coves. Choose to stay somewhere central for convenience or secluded for privacy but do book soon as accommodation on the island is scarce, often booking out a whole year in advance. Try Airbnb for some incredible holiday rentals or a boutique hotel like San Giorgio.


Village lunching in a Matin Studio dress

Do
Take a speedboat or sailboat around the island starting with a skip to the islet of Biševo to see the Blue Grotto, then continue on to the majestic beach of Stiniva, followed by a visit to the Green Cave and lunch on the islet of Budikovac. Alternatively, hire a scooter and head into the green inner belly for a vineyard hop and beach cove discovery. There is also a tour of the abandoned military complex tunnels available for the adventurous.


Swimming in a Massimo Dutti shirt, Matteau swim bikini and White Story shorts

Eat

In Vis, Pojoda serves old school specialties, Villa Kaliopa is set in a beautiful garden, Konoba Lola has cocktails, a pretty yard and modernised favourites, Buffet Vis is all about the freshest seafood in an simple setting and Karijola is a pizza night favourite.

In Komiza, Jastozeria had a famous scene in Mamma Mia and that said table now has a special plaque but the lobster dishes haven’t changed. Konoba Bako is perfect for date night, so make sure you book a seaside table in advance and visit just before sunset. Restaurant Hum has yummy favourites and Fabrika is great for a burger or breakfast.

If you are inland or at the coves visit Gušti Poja, Aerodrom Gostionica, Roki’s Tavern Peruka at Stiniva, Konoba Senko, the restaurant on Budikovac and Stončica for lunch. Make sure you order ahead and do try the peka, lamb or octopus slow cooked under an iron bell inside a fire oven.


 Dinner at the table featured in the movie wearing Zimmermann and Stuart Weitzman

Drink:

Vis isn’t much of a party island like it’s flashier cousins but it does have some fun. My favourite is Lambik bar for a relaxed evening drink, or head to the centuries old Fort George for a late night DJ boosted boogie. Komiza sometimes has parties at Kamenica beach but I prefer to sample the unique native plavac mali red from the many wine bars and konobas instead
This story appeared on Vogue.com.au here!

Fun ensued when FIB came to my house to raid my closet and talk fashion..Check out the two part interview and witness me ham it up for the cameras and catwalk with my cat ; ). Happy fashion week everyone & thanks to Paul Roberts and the team!
 

What does a girl do when given the chance to attend New York Fashion Week? Well, pack a suitcase full of spring trends and jump on the plane of course!

The weather was beautifully temperate, Australian designers rocked NYC catwalks, many Manhattan cocktails were drunk and beautiful dinners with friends accompamied by quite a bit of dancing took place — to give you an idea.
Here, I've pulled together three trends I loved wearing while in New York.

( Zimmermann playsuit, Chloe x Net-a-porter sunglasses, Gucci Bag, Alice McCall jacket and JYJewels earrings)

Playsuits

Playsuits are a favourite come warm weather for their cute yet practical versatility. Floral prints are always in, come spring, but throw on a big fluffy coat and a pair of oversized sunglasses and you have a 70s redux outfit that is somewhere between rockstar and disco diva. Lay on the glitz this season.

( Trelise Cooper coat, Double Rainbuu sweater, vintage skirt and Balenziaga mules)

Colour blocking
Colour blocking is back in a big way for spring, so choose primary colours for maximum impact. Big, feathery coats, oversized sweaters and pencil skirts are also a current trend. Try a kitten heel mule for ultimate comfort.

(Tanja wears vest by Tome, Elley flares, YSL bag and sunglasses)

Suiting

Suiting is one of those trends that will never age, but this season it’s de rigueur, or required. Choose from oversized, slouchy to form fitting and feminine, long suits a lá dresses, or vests as tops.

Shot by: India Hartford in New York
read the original story up on the newly relaunched vogue.com.au here!

Could I be classified as a travel accessory hoarder? Possibly ; ) It all depends on your personal definition of what classifies as a travel essential. I have written a couple of these posts before - if you’ve read them, you’ll know that I take my onboard comfort seriously. Along with bringing along my water and drinking at least 1 litre per every 12 hour stretch, I always sanitize my hands after going to the bathroom with tea tree or some sort of natural hand anti-bacterial solution to cut out germ spread. If I really want to minimize jet-lag, I don’t drink any alcohol on the plane ( even though, having a couple of those little bottles of red and then watching movies whilst either laughing loudly or outwardly weeping is one of my favourite past times - ’ cause: all the feels ; ) ).

They say one drink on the ground is worth two in the air, so that explains a lot about feeling like a dog’s breakfast if I imbibe too much. I also don’t eat any reheated plane food if I fly economy because usually it is full of preservatives which make me feel tired once I reach the other end ( even though once in a while; the stodgy lasagna with wine is soooo good). It all depends on if I’m flying for work, where a day of crippling jet-lag isn’t an option or if I’m going on holidays where it doesn’t matter, but as a rule, I try to eat a big, healthy meal before I leave, then take with me a whole bag of snacks such as fruit, cut up veg, nuts, turkey or beef jerkey, kale chips, popcorn and dried seaweed. If I am doing a 24 hour flight, I will eat on my stopover- most airports these days have some healthy options like a salad, stir fry or grilled fish. I also bring along melatonin and try to sleep on my destination’s timeline– this greatly aids recovery time. 5grams of vitamin C, magnesium, Armaforce and vitamin b complex are a complete must – cause getting the dreaded cold is the pits.

As far as my current favourite cosmetics and accessories, aka: the fun stuff, read on!

From back to front:

-My TDE carry on bag is big enough to carry everything I need, whether it’s for a weekend getaway or stop over. In black leather with gold monogram it’s all about understated cool

-This Gucci tote has become my go to beach, city and travel bag . I keep all my documents , wallet and cosmetics in there so I can reach them fast

-A Neo-preen pouch is great for all my essentials. I use it for cosmetics or sometimes to store fragile things like my camera. I love how roomy it is

-Hourglass foundation and concealer in one hides a multitude of sins

-I’m really into natural skin care and this Sukin hand and nail cream is deeply moisturising

-Lepaar lip balm and face oil are another example of beautiful ,organic ingredients that truly work. This combo is so incredibly luxurious, it’s such a treat to use

-Charlotte Tilbury beach stick in Moonbeach adds just the right amount of pink so I look fresh on arrival

-Grown Alchemist : Hydra-Mist Desert Lime& Amino Peptide : a yummy smelling all natural face mist for those parched plane moments

-Ayu perfume: a blend of rose, jasmine, musk and sandalwood in a base of jojoba and traditional Ayurvedic herbs, this beautiful smelling oil is a deliciously natural blend of scents

-Elizabeth and James Nirvana– banish oily locks and arrive at your destination sporting great hair with this travel sized dry shampoo

-Iphone with TDE custom cover : shuddup they now do handwriting?

-Last but not least; my Silk Slip eye mask for sweet dreams

Layers may not be the sexiest clothing option in the world, yet winter is the most imaginative time in the style stakes because we finally get to play with investment coats, beautiful boots and cosy knits.

Each year I invest in a few pieces that will take me through the coldest months, yet I want to make sure that my purchases last me through another winter without looking dated whilst staying reasonable in the cost-per-wear equations. And oh boy, were there some trends across the autumn/winter '17/'18 runways! From silver to folklore and ostrich feather, individuality was celebrated, but here are the ones I think will stand the test of time — or until next year, at least.

Winter may be threatening with its icy fingers but it has nothing on blanketed padded jackets in high tech incarnations. Even if it did, the oversize knitwear trend would stop it dead in it’s tracks. Still not enough? Matrix style patent leather brings out our inner dominatrix, whilst the stunning combination of blue and black will make winter surrender through sheer fashion domination.

(Ellery pants and jacket, Jac&Jack sweater and cardigan, Dion Lee sunglasses, Ole Lynegaard pearl earring sold individually)

Choose high-shine accessories with a lot of high power attitude.(Stillettos and bag both Saint Laurent from Farfetch)

(Tome dress, Sarah and Sebastian choker, Jimmy Choo sandals, vintage bracelet)

Gilded saffron spice, mustard, 70s sunflower and all shades of yellow are my colour crush. Mix them in any and all combinations including lime, earthy tones, reds, plums, even turquoise for a colour explosion – or just wear on their own.

Read more on vogue.com.au here!
photographed by Alice Wesley-Smith

One of the greatest things about fashion is that it isn’t about simply fulfilling a functional purpose, even though some people (cough, cough; my boyfriend) seem to not understand this at all.
After all, to some, fashion is just that, a utility that serves us as we go about the world. It isn’t about adornment, it has nothing to do with being afflicted with an unfortunate case of sparkle obsession or an inability to solely exist in monochrome.

Sure, I like a well cut pair of black pants as much as the next girl, but how beautiful is the world with a little whimsy in glorious colour? And to be frank, when I look at the things I have kept in boxes that I take down from tops of cupboards and plunder once in a while to mix in with my new purchases, I can see something surprising: it is all the extraordinary clothes that I keep — the items adorned with beautiful detailing and interesting cuts in gorgeous fabrics.

These have become the prized items I’m keeping for my daughter, not that amazing pair of black pants. I suppose that is because I know she will always be able to find a perfect pair of black pants but will she be able to find a pale pink silk satin wiggle dress? Will she equally squeal with delight upon discovering a white shirt or a sequin bomber jacket?

Time will tell but I’m betting on the latter. Fashion has seemingly rejected austerity measures and it has paid off in a big way. Gucci, whose collections have gone from restrainedly sexy under Frida Giannini to eccentric and deliciously bonkers under Alessandro Michele, has been hitting record sales. I’ve compiled some of the lust worthy pieces worth buying now and keeping for posterity.

Yellow is back in a big way and I love it re-imagined in a delicate slip. Co-ordinate with orange and shades of brown for a modern version of outerwear as innerwear '70s nostalgic.
Wearing: Gucci bag, Marysia slip, Prada jacket and sandals


Of course a feathered pyjama suit is practical – the silk feels heavenly on and you don’t need to get dressed again in the morning


Wearing: Prada pajama set, Kate Sylvester faux fur coat, Dior slides

A floral dress has become a staple item – not only worn with sandals in summer, you can now wear it over leather tights, thigh high boots, or with slippers for a casual weekend look.

Wearing: Dress by Alice McCall, jacket by Christopher Esber, slippers by Alexander Wang, bag by Bvlgari, sunglasses by Miu Miu

Mix your prints and animal skins for a deliciously eccentric blend.

Wearing: Bracelets by Hermes, Bag by Bvlgari, Slippers by Alexander Wang from Farfetch, dress by Alice McCall

 

 

 

Photography by Alice Wesley-Smith
Styling by Tanja Gacic
Hair and make-up by Claire Thomson for Oribe
Model: Eilika from Chic Model Management
This story originally appeared on vogue.com.au here!


Wearing Equipment shirt from Edwards Imports, Holly Ryan earrings, Ellery jacket, Smooth Miracle Primer, Miracle Touch Foundation and Eyefinity Smokey Eye Pencil in Black charcoal and brushed copper.

Glam in under 10 minutes

Some days, I wake up in the morning and everything goes smoothly; alarm goes off on time, child doesn’t wake me up in the night and the cat doesn’t attempt to sit on my face at 4:30am. I savor my coffee in a dignified manner, do a 10 minute meditation and apply my make up in peace, smug in my utter personification of efficiency.

And then, there are the other mornings, where everything goes awry and I end up getting everyone ready in a hurry only to look at the mirror, sigh at my dark circles and the 1 minute left on the clock to make them disappear. The day is a blur of appointments and then I remember that post work event, the one I must rush to without going home. What’s a girl to do? Here are some of my tips of the trade as brought to you by the new Max Factor Miracle Collection

Start the day with The New Smooth Miracle Primer because this little helper provides a smooth and even application of foundation, sealing it for longer, lasting wear. Perfect for dry skin that gets even more dehydrated by make-up, this primer will care for your skin all day long. Follow this up with the New Miracle Touch Foundation for a seamless blending and shade matching that blurs imperfections and nourishes skin.

Next up, choose one of the 2 new Eyefinity Smokey Eye Pencils; the dual sided pencil features vibrant colours for intensity and deep metallic shade for highlighting. Bonus; the waterproof formula will stay on until you decide to take it off, not that accidental eye rub during the afternoon slump. I love how the dark shade frames the eyes, highlights and defines the brow bone and the inner corner of the eyes. For day I used the highlighting copper end as a liner, it gave me just the right amount of definition without being overly made up.

Read the rest of the story on vogue.com.au here!

Australian fashion continued to carve its own path on the world stage at this year’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia (MBFWA) with our designers covering everything from swim to denim, ready-to-wear and high-gloss evening wear.

Dion Lee opened the week with a spectacular show at the foreground of the Opera House, wowing with his unique mix of high tech craft, interesting tailoring and modern swim whilst simultaneously launching the kind of menswear any man would love.I was excited about Alice McCall’s foray into glam rock with a Hollywood starlet edge, Bec & Bridge’s return to rock 'n' roll party dresses, Akira’s soft yet modern collection, Double Rainbouu’s signature look, Michael Lo Sordo’s dramatic silks and hipbone detailing, Christopher Esber’s mix of irreverent cool and great tailoring, Vale denim’s pastels, the ever amazing Ellery fashion code…and the list goes on! Special kudos goes to this year’s casting which included older women, street kids and ordinary people, making shows diverse and fun to watch.

I was privileged to borrow clothes from five designers prior to fashion week to bring you this story. It is always difficult to pry items away from designers so close to their big event, but also incredibly exciting to shoot the pictures whilst getting a sneak peek into their collections.
Without further ado here is my review of five designers …


Wearing: Yousef Akbar dress, Gucci heels from Farfetch, Christian Louboutin bag

Yousef Akbar is a young designer making a name on the world scene designing daring clothes favoured by the likes of Chrissy Teigen, Kelly Osbourne and Jessica Mauboy. Yousef has his own way of mixing avant-garde with eveningwear and I’m excited to see what this fresh designer does next. I especially loved his foray into sequin and feather this season.


Wearing: MacGraw top, skirt and shoes

MacGraw is a label I have been following for a while for their vintage-brought-to-the-21st-century-sensibility. For this collection they seemed to veer far into the past, mixing Edwardian times with the 60s, 70s and 80s, with puffed sleeves, high collars, checks, prints and ruffled skirts that young Madonna would’ve adored.



Wearing 10 Pieces

Ten Pieces showed their collection at Icebergs's dining room and bar, with the pretty views juxtaposing the tough streetwear collection on show. A mainly black and white series of easy to wear pieces showed designer Maurice Terzini’s penchant for avant-garde yet relaxed clothes that are sure to be a hit with the cool kids. For this story we shot a different side to this label, influenced by Terzini’s partner Lucy Hinckfuss who is bringing in a soft and feminine hue as a polar opposite to the label’s aesthetic. Hinckfuss has said: “ Ten Pieces is an androgynous label so we decided that there should be more variations and the kind of clothes that appeal to women. These will be available alongside our other pieces online.”


Wearing: KitX, vintage Balenciaga heels, YSL sunglasses from Farfetch

KITX is one of my favourite brands showing at MBFWA. I am not sure if it is Kit Willow’s infectious enthusiasm at bringing top-notch quality to ecologically responsible manufacturing, or the fact that she always uses beautiful fabrics that she makeshifts into addictively interesting staples . This season, Kit continued her reign as the tailoring queen, mixing it with sensuous silks , sexy draping, colour blocking and grown up relaxed chic.


Wearing: Romance Was Born dress, Gianvitto Rossi boots, vintage hat

Romance Was Born closed MBFWA in a spectacle of a Studio 54 extravaganza. High drama and theatrics always make Romance Was Born’s shows eagerly anticipated and this year did not disappoint. The audience tapped their feet to the beat and swooned over amazing specifics (each girl had different hair and make up! There was a dance sequence! Nude models were body painted by artist Del Kathryn Barton!). Underneath all the glitz, however, certain things stand, such as the incredible attention to detail. The codes that Romance Was Born has built over the years have been re-invisioned through cool denim, oversized sleeves and beading. Lush ruffles have joined oversized feather jackets, along with rainbow fringing and colourful suiting.

Styled and Photographed by Tanja Gacic
Hair and Make up by Claire Thomson using Oribe hair products
Model: Nathalie Nyren from Chic Model Management
Assisting by Eleni George
This post originally appeared on vogue.com.au here!

There isn’t anything like healthy, even and smooth skin that makes me feel more self-confident in my day to day life. With so much time spent on the go, I can’t afford to spend hours on such fanciful pursuits as lengthy make up applications or time consuming beauty regimes so; I’ve had to find other ways to make my skin glow. Trust me, things weren’t always peachy keen in the complexion department and it took decades of trial and error, fads and failures, blemishes and unevenness to get to where I am now.

In collaboration with Max Factor’s Miracle Collection, I am dishing out all my skin care secrets so that you can take a shortcut to a heavenly glow.

Great skin is always a mirror of your internal health so the journey to smoothness starts in the gut. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables as they are rich in vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and prebiotics necessary to feed the good bacteria that keeps our body (and skin!) in tip-top shape. Increase your consumption of orange varieties as these contain carotenoids, which filter blue light, protect skin from environmental factors and add a visible healthy hue. Don’t forget to cut out any foods that your body is sensitive to as well as any preservatives, colours or artificial ingredients- all a sure fire way to a break out. Make sure your lifestyle isn’t depleting all your B vitamins which are necessary for blemish free skin, things like life stresses and nights out all run our reserves low. Forgo botox by adding plentiful collagen into your diet via long cooked bone broths or supplements and over time the skin will develop more bounce, moisture and resilience. Sugar is not the skin’s friend, leading to premature aging and oxidation so replace it with occasional natural sweets and supplement with probiotics which help our body to thrive.

Move that bod every day until you sweat so that toxins are cleared out in a timely manner. Support your body’s detoxification patterns by drinking at least 2 litres of pure water - all the hydration will plump up the skin from the inside. Try to meditate each day for at least 5-10 minutes as this develops a sense of calm that becomes an anchor point when life takes us on unpleasant journeys – I believe that hard emotions can lead to break outs. ( wearing Lonely Label swimwear)

read the rest on vogue.com.au here!

( Versace sunglasses from Sunglass Hut, Hermès scarf, Max Mara bra top, Tiffany & Co Smile necklace )

As the summer came to pass, unfairly amidst 6 weeks of rain, I was inclined to shout curses whilst waving a closed fist to the heavens. How dare the powers up there deny us of the best part of the season? All those late march barbeques and languid lazing on the beach gone up in a poof of neverending rain.Then, I started editing pictures for this story and realized the summer was plenty alright, even if it had prematurely ejected itself from my overzealous plans. In collaboration with Sunglass Hut, I spent the past few months wearing amazing sunglasses I had edited from their extensive collection and these babies made every one of my outfits incredible by extension. So without further ado, here is my summer diary…in sunglasses

Above: In December, my boyfriend and I took a trip to India. It had been my dream to visit Kerala since I saw a documentary on the region’s food a few years back so he surprised me with the trip (more on India coming soon in a travel post!) We rented out a whole houseboat and sailed the backwaters , all the while eating delicious seafood curries. These Versace sunglasses are my favourite shape; somewhere between a cat eye and wayfarer and are uber versatile with their tortoishell tones

( Prada sunglasses from Sunglass Hut )

After the boat, we spent a few days on Kerala's serene beaches where the fisherman's boats were painted an obviously on trend shade of orange ; ). I'm absolutely in love with the Prada sunglasses I wore in this picture and still mix them up with everything from jeans to LBDs

( Ray Ban sunglasses from Sunglass Hut, Agent Provocateur bikini )

After India we jumped onto a plane to Sri Lanka, where we stayed at the beautiful Anantara hotel surrounded by hectares of coconut plantations. I loved how these Ray Ban sunglasses had reflective lenses...perfect for napping on day beds whilst pretending I'm reading a book

(Miu Miu sunglasses from Sunglass Hut, Rebecca Valance top, Sarina Suriano earrings )

Back to Sydney post holiday and off to a friend's birthday. Loved how these Miu Miu shades added elegance and metallic sheen to my pretty ruffled top

( Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses from Sunglass Hut, Max Mara top, Thomas Sabo necklace, Cartier bracelet )

Taking a break from shooting in possibly the best aviator sunglasses I have seen in a while. With their geometric and exaggerated shape, these honeys cover a multitude of sins whilst making every outfit cool AF.

( Prada sunglasses from Sunglass Hut, Binny dress, vintage earrings )

It's now autumn but the sun is out again so how about pretending the summer is still going? Certainly, looking through pink tinted lenses might help to see the glass as half full - that's why these Prada sunglasses are staking a firm hold in my wardrobe

I recently did an interview with Style Inc, an awesome blog that features many women I admire. Check out their blog for some good Friday brain fodder and below for my feature's transcript!

On personal style:
Some days I do not get out of t-shirts and slides and on others I like to satiate all my different personalities’ preferences. It’s a little bit United States Of Tara in my style department.

On the journey into modelling:

I was shopping for shoes in a New Zealand store when an agent approached me. It all happened quite quickly from there and by the time I was 16, I was travelling and supporting myself.

Advice she would give to her younger self:

Some people will love you and some people will hate you and that’s ok. You will meet amazing people and see beautiful things and have experiences that you’ll cherish forever. Relax and trust the Universe has got your back.

Taking care of herself:

I cannot lay still to get a massage or facial - it’s a struggle to get me chained down to anything for too long. I like foot massages though (because I can still do stuff on my phone), pedicures, pilates, yoga, laps in the Icebergs pool, walks on Bondi Beach and cooking food I’ve just bought from the markets. These things feel like self care to me. I am pretty into organic food and superfood supplements. Going to bed early is awesome for me but rarely happens. I also do Silva Method, meditation and journaling when I get a chance.

On her current wardrobe:

Overflowing, schizophrenic, with lots of vintage and colour. My wishlist items at the moment are probably the Balmain gold tie up slides, the baby blue Gucci bag and the Alaia studded heeled sandals

 

On travelling:

I just love travelling, period. If there was a way for my daughter to get an education and not miss her friends, I’d travel the world non stop like some gypsy caravan. I like it everywhere. I just went to India and Sri Lanka and I loved it there. I love Europe and South America and any island paradise. I’m Croatian so I love the Croatian coast. I really want to do Maldives and Iceland and Africa.

 

Her perfect day:

Wake up slowly, having the chance to remember my dream, then a snuggle with my boyfriend and coffee in bed. My daughter waking up after me, then a coastal walk to Bronte and a swim in the rock pool. Cooking up some pecorino, zucchini, wild mushroom and truffle eggs with a side of crispy bacon..Going to the Art Gallery of NSW, followed by lunch at Rockpool or Fratelli Paradiso. An afternoon nap..then perhaps a bbq on my rooftop or Icebergs for dinner and cocktails with friends... Does my daughter ever wake up after me though? NO! hahaha.

Life lessons she’s learnt along the way:

Do what inspires you, work hard and the Universe will conspire in your favour. Be truthful, for truth sets everyone free and allows for choice and growth. Don’t be set about expecting a certain outcome- sometimes things are not for you and better things are coming your way. Don’t give up easily, always persevere, but if something isn’t working despite all your efforts, let it go humbly and lightly, it is not for you. Prepare for the worst but expect the best. Intention and mindfulness are tools that are worthwhile mastering. Be kind, always

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Tanja’s favourites

Flower: Gardenia or wild rose

Book: Anything by Henry Miller, Bukowski, Kurt Vonnegut or Tom Robbins

Coffee: French pressed with raw cream

Starsign: Aries

Place to drink after dark: 10 William Street

Favourite cafe/restaurant: Icebergs, Sean’s Panaroma, Rockpool, Fred's

Songs currently on repeat: The new Kid Cudi album

Most treasured wardrobe item: My Chanel 2.55 bag. I’ve had it for 10 years and it’s still great.

Go-to outfit: Bikini, wrap dress and slides. If I have to leave the beach, it’s pretty much a free for all.

Designers: Gucci, Givenchy, Proenza, Balenciaga, Frame… And of course all my Ozzie favourites like Ellery, Dion Lee, Christopher Esber, Romance, Toni Maticevski etc

Eyewear: Prada

Perfume: Right now it’s Tom Ford’s Soleil Blanc because it smells like summer and Coppertone tanning oil.

Skincare: Any organic face wash, Nude skincare exfoliating bicarb foam, vit C serum, Lepaar face oil.

Game-changing beauty item: Charlotte Tilbury’s Filmstar Bronze & Glow

Day-time beauty favourites: Charlotte Tilbury beach stick in Moonbeach

Evening beauty favourites: CT’s eye shadow compact in The Golden Goddess

Travel must-haves: Silk Slip eye mask, natural hand sanitiser, SK- II face mask, LEPAAR face oil, The Beauty Chef coconut lip balm, Grown Alchemist hand cream, a good book, my Mac computer, a large bottle of Evian, some organic snacks, magnesium, vit C, Arma Force and last but not least a full Banjo & Mathilda cashmere tracksuit pants and sweater combo . I am basically a travel accessory hoarder and have crazy carry on!

Most happiest when: Everyone around me is happy and healthy, I have inspiring projects on the go , weather is good, I have beautiful produce in my fridge to cook and have paid all my bills way in advance. Good sex never hurts this equation either, let’s face it.

Wake up, put your sneakers on, grab a takeaway coffee (organic of course, we are in Bondi Beach after all! ) and head for the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, arguably Australia’s most spectacular coastal pathway. Revel in gorgeous bays, amazing vistas and never ending horizons; this is Sydney at it’s most spectacular. Walk back to Bondi Beach and take a dip at the unique Icebergs swimming pool – sure to be an Instagram worthy picture!

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After a refreshing swim and a vitamin D top up, head upstairs to the beautiful Icebergs Dining Room and Bar for a spot of lunch. With a luxe regional Italian flavour, best of Australian produce and view to die for, this restaurant is a Sydney institution not to be missed. Order oysters and ink spaghetti with crab while you sip on a cocktail and watch whales, dolphins or surfers frolic on the beach below

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Take a taxi into the city and head for the Art Gallery of New South Wales. With collections of Australian, European , Asian and contemporary art plus riveting exhibitions on loan from around the world, it is a blend of Australasia culture that needs to be experienced. After you’ve got your fill of artistic beauty, cross the road into the Botanical Gardens and take a stroll whilst taking in many unique species of Australian flora.

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Once in the city, make a visit to Agent Provocateur’s spectacular Westfield Sydney store and try on an array of naughty but nice lingerie and accessories. Every woman needs beautiful underwear for that special occasion- I love Agent Provocateur’s blend of quality and whimsical sexiness. Can you tell I feel comfortable here? ; )

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Sydney boasts an incredible harbour and what a better way to see it then from a completely refurbished 44 metre European style boat with 3 decks in the style of Hollywood’s Golden age and elegance of vintage cruising. Seadeck is the perfect way to take in the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge whilst floating through a sunset, listening to beats and noshing on a lobster roll. Purchase tickets at least 3 weeks ahead to avoid disappointment.

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Kick on at Sydney’s original small bar and club- Goodbar. Newly redeveloped, it is all about fancy cocktails upstairs and club dancing downstairs. Escape Sydney’s draconian lock out laws in this musical heaven and listen to some of the best homegrown and international djs as you boogie on down till the wee hours of the morning.

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Et voila! Sydney done right!

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Not only do women on occasion want to get dressed up and be fabulous, but the solidity of precious jewels in a shifting stock market represents true value in the face of uncertain, unproven investments. A diamond lasts forever and represents a true mark of eternity in an increasingly throw away world in which items are replaced with ever increasing speed. There is something to be said about quality, craftsmanship and lasting beauty, and this is why buying beautiful jewellery is such a wonderful expression of honouring a special moment in time. Marking an occasion with an item that will be cherished and passed down generations transforms the item into family heritage, a tradition, a memory that never dies.

“Once upon a time” may be a sentence once used to begin stories of princesses in gowns wearing precious jewels, yet women today still relish feeling like princesses, even if it is in a decidedly more modern rendition of an exciting break from every day jeans and knits.
For my second collaboration with Hardy Brothers, I wanted to utilize the gowns I am currently day dreaming about and accessorize them with exclusive, unique and utterly luxurious pieces that the company is so famous for a 21st century take on going to the ball.

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Above: HARDY BROTHERS 18CT WHITE & YELLOW GOLD CUSHION CUT YELLOW DIAMOND HALO RING, HARDY BROTHERS PLATINUM & 18CT YELLOW GOLD PEAR CUT YELLOW DIAMOND EARRINGS, HARDY BROTHERS 18CT WHITE & YELLOW GOLD PEAR CUT YELLOW DIAMOND RING, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN HEELS AND BAG, CUTLER AND GROSS SUNGLASSES.

Yellow is the stand out colour of the upcoming season, so go all out on the glamour with an asymetrical dress in vibrant lemon that comes replete with romantic flowing sleeves. Pair it back with tough accessories to add a modern edge, then up the shine with a smattering of gorgeous yellow diamonds

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WEARING HARDY BROTHERS PLATINUM DIAMOND NECKLET AND HARDY BROTHERS PLATINUM EMERALD CUT DIAMOND HALO RING

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Lounging by the pool is all the better when it’s done in off the shoulder, sequined perfection. Exposing the decolletage is just asking for timeless pieces that won’t ever go out of style ( Rachel Gilbert dress )

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WEARING HARDY BROTHERS 18CT WHITE & ROSE GOLD PINK DIAMOND DROP EARRINGS, HARDY BROTHERS 18CT WHITE GOLD DIAMOND TENNIS BRACELET AND CHLOE DRESS FROM PARLOUR X.

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Velvet is the fabric to buy now, cherish forever and a perfect juxtaposition to icy diamonds. Invest in stunning pieces that are not only delicate and unique but your children will fall in love with and fight over one day.
Photographed by Alice Wesley-Smith
With thanks to Justin Hemmes and Kate Fowler for the stunning location The Hermitage.

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There is something magical about the way light changes during Australian winter. In the summer, it is so incredibly bright and hot , it bleaches the sky out and scares people into the shade, burning both skin and photographic nuances into oblivion. In winter, the intensity softens revealing dramatic colours and vivid shades so original and stunning that it always catches me aback with sheer impossibleness of it. Whilst shooting this wintery Seed story we were blessed with some of this amazing light which made me feel so #blessed to do what I do and get paid to create images that showcase the clothes and landscapes we love.

For me, black is an oxymoron, a shade that I rarely wear as I love colour but a tone that I love wearing because black is intimidating and mysterious; proven to make the wearer seem more sophisticated and powerful. Add lace to it and it evokes a childhood image; when I was 6 years old a beautiful young woman I knew on the island in Croatia became a widow when her fisherman husband drowned in a freak storm . She was so gorgeous that every man in the village we holidayed in was besotted with her, yet she mourned for years, wearing sexy yet demure black lace dresses with her heavy gold cross chain resting between her ample bust. Every morning she would walk across the square on her way to church holding the cross on her chain absentmindedly, the lightness of her skin peeking through the intricate lace, the scalloping edges framing her torso, her black hair trailing in the summer breeze. She was a goddess clad in darkness and every man worth his salt would drink his morning coffee in that square and watch her pass with a hope that once she was done mourning she would choose him, yet none of them dared to rush her through her process. Such was the power of the black she wore.

When Seed, a company I have been a fan of for years not just for adult apparel but awesome kid's clothes as well approached me to shoot this story, I wanted to convey this unassuming power of black; timeless, classic yet incredibly sexy. It really didn't hurt that the outfits are actually amazing and incredibly wearable...hope you like! x

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When jumpsuits are a good thing - this baby will meet your mother in law, go to the ball and seduce your date..all whilst remaining stunningly 70s inspired

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A classic Little Black Dress with peekaboo lace is a favourite in anyone's books and this demure yet alluring version is nothing short of amazing

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Get on the 90s train in a sheer sleeved bodysuit with a plunging neckline and classic slim cigarette pants, then offset with burgundy pumps . Sharon Stone would approve

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Bell sleeves and a full skirt add a vintage feel to an outfit so pretty , it belongs in a romance novel

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A perfect black turtleneck is on every girl's ultimate dress list. This number covets pleated shoulder detailing whilst remaining decidedly fitted and modern

Clothes all by Seed
Beauty note: Armani Luminous Silk foundation and High Precision eyebrow pencil, L'oreal Superliner eyeliner, Tom Ford lipstick in First Time, Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar contouring & illuminating kit
photographed by Alice Wesley-Smith

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For nearly 200 years, Longines has been a company founded on the principles of elegance and tradition. Celebrated for it's pilot's watches, clean lines and immaculate Swiss precision, Longines is a company that has historically consistently innovated new and exciting watch making technologies, propelling the whole timepiece industry forward in turn . Worn by the likes of Amelia Earhart, the watches were simultaneously used by explorers and fashion forward individuals as well as the world's vagabonds and sporting stars. Naturally, when I got an invite to a special lunch at the Longine's Stakes Day I couldn't wait for the experience!

Above: Catching up withSpyStyle blogger Natalie Cantell and actress Isabelle Cornish to discuss our takes on race-day fashion

mellongines2The luncheon was adorned with beautiful white roses & hydrangeas, the perfect backdrop to any photo

mellongines3I had the pleasure of meeting the beautiful actress Aishwarya Rai (the Longines Global ambassador), before she rushed off to present the brand's prize for elegance on the field

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let's get straight to the desert! And why not when it looks like a piece of art? (I accessorised my Christopher Esber outfit with the new Dolce Vita timepiece, Furla clutch and Hatmaker headpiece)

See the full diary of my day at the Vogue Australia site here!

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