The term “wearable” is a bit of a double edged sword in fashion realms. While it can often signify the ultimate compliment – clothes that translate seamlessly into real life – it can also be a subtle barb; clothes that are boring, banal and utterly without design quality. During RAFW there were two shows that struck us as being wearable in the best possible way, Gary Bigeni and Sara Phillips.

It’s not hard to imagine the drapey tee-shirts and leather pencil skirts at Gary Bigeni sliding effortlessly into any woman’s wardrobe. A deft hand with his signature silk-jersey and a master in the pop colour of cerulean blue or rust orange, Gary’s RAFW 2011 collection offered plenty for his legion of fans to love. But there were hints of the new, too – sculpted leather tee shirts in rich buttery brown, a gorgeous dove grey sweater and tailored pants set, and, hark! A stripe. It’s the first time Gary has done a stripe, and what a stripe it was, all thick and wide on flowy maxis, and then tilted on its side to run diagonal on polo shirts and tucked-under mini dresses.

After last season’s ode to dusty neutrals, the bright blues, reds and oranges of this collection were a shock to the system. But these were easy clothes for easy living; throw on a cotton sweater in peachy pink, maybe tuck it into a long-line jersey skirt with leather panels, accessorise with a bright clutch. Nothing was difficult to comprehend or digest, but that is not to say there was no food for thought. The packed house left with plenty to mull over, including – but not limited to – the short suit for work (Gary offered up a glorious watermelon pink number), the new it-colour combination of blue and orange, and, of course, a shopping list for next season.

While it’s a little harder to picture the sheer croc-print jumpsuits or lace bike shorts from Sara Phillips going from desk to dinner, there was plenty of looks in the show that really worked. Was it the colour that made it so good? All egg-yolk yellow through punchy corals to prettiest pinks. Designers all week showed neon brights but none quite as memorable as Sara. The show had an Australian theme seen in the Waratah print on sheer dresses to the use of a remix of Yothu Yindi’s Treaty while the models sauntered around a Henry Hudson flower installation. It was Australia somehow cooler than you’ve ever seen it, though, where the girls have midriff cut-outs on their dresses perfect for sneaky tanning and they wear scuffed boots with everything.

Sara Phillips was all about showing casual separates – the Australian way. Think drapey jumpsuits in grey cinched in with a mint green belt and black harem pants with a peek-a-boo lace shirt buttoned all the way to the top. Flora and fauna adorned the button downs and pleated mini dresses to give the collection an air of the organic. Sara does sexy well. From the sheer bike shorts poking out from little dresses to the thigh slits on the midi skirts, it was all a careful balancing act of concealing and revealing. And isn’t that what modern dressing is all about? Gary and Sara both tread that fine line between hip, sexy, cool and relaxed to create clothes that are instantly desirable and yes, wearable. Sign us up for one of everything, please!

Words by Hannah-Rose Yee Photos by Lucinda Burtt and Sophia Phan

Rugged up in coats and furs were we, the On the Streets of Sydney Team ready to keep you updated on day 2 of RAFW. But, in classic Sydney style, the weather changed, and what could have been a bleak and dismal day became a mildly tolerable one. Just as well, because we had Rachel Gilbert, Sara Philips, Miss Unkon, Carl Kapp, Amber and Thomas, Marnie Skillings, Kate Sylvester and more to go to. We kept in high spirits with blow-dry sessions at the Redken Tents and plenty of post-show dissection of looks (we loved the bike shorts at Sara Philips, we are desperate for the yellow maxi dress at Kate Sylvester, we would do anything for those fringed flares at Amber and Thomas). RAFW is definitely catching up to us. We’ve run around the city for off-site shows, snuck in a couple of classes at uni and time at work, we ran into superstars (and best friends) Gail Elliot and Yasmin Le Bon and got the chance to spend some quality blogging downtime with old friends like Zanita Whittington. And, hey, maybe we’re going a little crazy, but was that a snake on the runway at RTW Group 2? What an exciting day. We can’t wait to see what Day 3 throws up.

The champagne may be flowing and the goodie bags may be filled with delicious lindt chocolate, but there is no rest for the wicked. RAFW is a workout, but a pleasurable one, and we here at On the Streets of Sydney are determined to work up a sweat. What we liked on day 1? The touches of gold (Gold Member Cream Blush and Silent Night Eye Shadow from NARS by Mecca Cosmetica) in the make up at Arnsdorf,  the double cuff jewellery at Kirrily Johnston, the colour palette at Morrison of rust, navy and crisp white (white is definitely a huge trend already at RAFW with every show from Gail Sorronda to Flannel showing white looks). The team here at On the Streets of Sydney have been busier than ever getting the exclusives for you. We got amongst it at Friend of Mine to get the best shot of blogger Alexandra Spencer’s stylings of bullet-buckle belts and assymetric super short hemlines. We queued up to get a peek at Lover‘s amazing 10th anniversary show, a divine vision of white, black and red all over. We stalked down some amazing street style from fashion-forward attendees. We’re exhausted that’s for sure. But the promise of even more amazing fashion tomorrow has us going again. Bring on day 2!

For live updates follow On the Streets of Sydney on Twitter @ontheSOS and our personal accounts

Creative Director Hayley: @fashionhayley
Features Editor Hannah-Rose: @hannahroserose
Features Writer Lucinda: @thriftandthread
Features Writer Sophia: @Sophia_Phan
Editorial Photographer Rachel: @rachelkara
Streetstyle Photographer Vanessa: @themondayissue
Contributing Fashion Editor and Styling Assistant Samnang: @samnangkevin
Menswear Writer Genesis: @dandysachs

Minimalism is having a bit of a moment, even here in maximalist, all or nothing Sydney. How else can you explain the spate of collections recently that feature the clean lines and cool simplicity of a minimalist palette, that mine the collections of everyone from Francisco Costa at Calvin Klein to Phoebe Philo at Celine for inspiration, and that fuse it all with a bit of Sydney sensuality. LIFEwithBIRD, the joint venture of Nicholas Van Messner and Bridget McCall, is all about capturing a little bit of that exciting energy that is the minimalist viewpoint.

Their showing on Wednesday morning before RAFW continued in this vein of simplicity mixed with energy. The clothes shimmered in a palette of dusky neutrals – colours ran the gamut of blush tones and creams – and were adorned by simple pleats, peek-a-boo slits and tucks. Those that were left bare and simple were accompanied by Nearly Nude undergarments, the perfect bodycon counterpoint for the floaty layers. The models, arranged in pyramid shapes across the floor of the show space, wore clothes that seemed to float from their bodies, the sheer chiffon and gauzy materials providing a sense of the ethereal as well as hinting at the body beneath. Block colours mixed well with simple, digital prints to create a sense of fusion. Everything not only worked well together, but looked good too.

We’d like to coin the phrase “neutral blocking”, and it’s coming to a minimalist wardrobe near you. Forget the bright colours of the international runways, this season Sydney is going to be all over the neutral blocking. LIFEwithBIRD showed how you could just as easily create the kind of graphic looks with mixing neutrals as you could with Jil Sander neon brights. Think a dusky pink blazer with a white tee shirt and a grey skirt. Or pair that beautiful pared back blue oversized blazer with one of those barely-there nude tunics and a pair of light purple shorts. Mix up your c0lours and mix up your lengths too – try a crop top with a midi skirt and a long line blazer, or a short dress over itsy-bitsy shorts and a loose overshirt. This look isn’t about strict and severe lines, but rather the romantic, easy luxury layering of a simple palette. Clothes for the girl who knows exactly what she wants, and doesn’t want a fuss in getting it.

Surry Hills has long been the creative hub of Sydney. Hip, underground bars, quietly successful art galleries, and what is arguably some of the best coffee in town. But it also plays home to the street stylings of many a young, budding brand, from One Teaspoon to Wheels and Doll Baby, The Grand Social’s store Edition to the vintage delights of Sydney institutions like Grandma Takes A Trip and C’s Flashback. Estate of Mind is a new addition to this buzzing melange of boutiques and emporiums. With a focus on up and coming Australian designers and a darkly romantic mood – think skulls, waxy candles and exposed concrete floors – the store is an ode to the off-kilter, slightly bizarre heart of Surry Hills fashion.

From the sharp tailoring of Michael Lo Sordo to the avant-garde looks of UTS design graduate Lucy K, Estate of Mind sets itself apart from the Crown St retail pack. We couldn’t think of a better location for this fashion wonderland, adorned with ornate empty frames and straw boaters perched on wall-mounted antlers. Want a leather bowtie, a piece of aztec-esque jewellery or a sheer maxiskirt? Try How Typical of Metal, Maskarada and Ashleigh Taylor. Want something that you won’t find on every second girl at Cafe Lounge on a Friday night? Try anything – we recommend Serpent & the Swan and Virginie Lynn. Shop content in the knowledge that you are supporting our fashion industry from the bottom up, encouraging creativity and nurturing talent. We caught up with owner and buyer, Sylvie Cornu, to talk about everything weird, wonderful and wildly exciting about young Sydney fashion.

Tell us about your store.

+ESTATEofMIND is a new concept store designed to help support Australia’s best up and coming fashion designers.

Why did you choose Surry Hills?

I chose Surry Hills, because I wanted to attract the attention of the weird and wonderful and with Crown Street being the Hub of all cute and quirky I thought it would be the perfect location to inject a new concept store specifically designed for this genre. I personally love shopping on this strip as I’m not a fan of mass produced clothing, I knew with no doubt id be able to find something unique and different in the long list of fabulous shops that adorn this street.

What labels do you stock?

I stock a range of men and woman’s labels such as Michael Lo Sordo, Lucy K, Serpent & the Swan, Ashleigh Taylor, Tale Told, Flowers for a VagabOnd, Virginie Lynn, Gossip and Orri Henrisson.

Do you have any accessory labels?

Love & Luck for bags, St Looi Blues and KeilanaSkye Industries for shoes, MOSS by Mia, Ghoullery, Cherrytree Road and Maskarada for jewellery, How typical of Metal for leather bow ties, Ginny & Jude for hats and hair pieces and last of all Abe & Sara vintage sunglasses.

What is your favourite label?

Each label has an aspect I love so this is an extremely hard question! But if i was to narrow it down I would have to say the Lucy K label for its avant-garde  designs  and use of contrasting textures, fabrics and colours. This designer is an incredible talent, having only just graduated from UTS in 2010, Lucy is definitely a star in the making!

Tell us about the design of the store.

The store draws a strong influence on my love of the dark and quirky featuring a collection of skulls I have been accumulating along my travels throughout Europe and especially Mexico, mixed in with a touch of femme fatale and a overall mash up of eclectic madness!

Why the focus on young designers?

Having come from a design background a new how hard it was to get a start in the industry with most Aussie designers needing to export their wares to be ’seen’ and ’heard’, +ESTATEofMIND gives our home-grown talent a start in the industry. With the rise of mass produced clothing, a lot of people are now wanting to look for unique labels that they know 20 other people wont be wearing the same thing, but don’t know where to find them so I created a fashion wonderland which is just the place! Most of my labels only do limited styles and sizes making it more exclusive and unique.

What do you see in the future of Estate of Mind?

As I’m deeply infatuated with anything art, fashion and design based, in the future I’m hoping to have art installations and collaborate with a wide range of creative types as well as to look into expanding to international emerging designers.

What is your favourite thing about Sydney?

Originally coming from a small town near Byron Bay, the bright lights and fast life always attracted me to Sydney! And with luscious beaches, great restaurants and a rising underground art and fashion scene- what’s not to love about Sydney! But favourite thing would be the fact there is a little bit of everything here and if you want a change of scene you don’t have to go far to find it!

Visit Estate of Mind at 34/277 Crown St, Surry Hills 7 days a week or give them a call at (02) 8021 941.

Fashion Designer Mary-Anne Pham has the kind of wardrobe that just makes you green with envy. Chanel clogs? Check. Balenciaga city bag? Check. A host of separates from every cool girl brand from Opening Ceremony to her own label, Piper Lane? Check, check, check. Her style reflects that modern jet-set melange: a refreshing collaboration between Sydney’s laid back sartorial sentiment and pieces from international heavyweights picked up on her travels to style destinations like Paris, New York and Milan.

We caught up with Mary-Anne over scrambled eggs and avocado on toast at Bernasconis cafe, Rose Bay, to chat about icons, inspiration, and the incredible Isabel Marant.

Describe your style:

Relaxed. Thrown together. Femme. A dash of girl meets woman meets boy…

What is one wardrobe item you can’t live without?

Well that really depends on what season and what time of the year we’re in. Ah the fickleness of fashion. Right now it would be my Givenchy Pandora and my Piper Lane silk tank. I have it in all colours and it’s a total no brainer that goes back with everything.

Who is your style icon?

I have a few for different reasons. Katharine Hepburn for her ingenuity and individuality. Kate Moss – she really is the style icon of our generation and has that extra style DNA gene that no one else in the public eye has been able to come close to. And Kate Bosworth is a quiet achiever. Not an icon but notable mention. She always makes good choices and styles her outfits with a keen eye.

Who is your favourite designer?

Isabel Marant. Her handwriting is a perfect match for me. It’s feminine and girly but has this intangible edge to it that is sometimes rock, sometimes hard. I get so much wear out of her pieces. She continually and skillfully maintains this perfect balance of high end fashion with ease and wearability.

Do you have a favourite piece in your wardrobe?

Hmm I have a few. My new Pandora Givenchy for love factor, my Et Vous blazer because it’s such a classic staple and my Chanel clogs as clearly they are such a treasure! I also love this American Retro dress. When I bought it I thought it was so beautiful and I wanted to get married in it. It is so delicate and pretty. I love it!

What are you inspired by?

Colour. A good colour palette really gets me excited. And good style, which to me should be effortless and not so contrived.

What is the story of your label, Piper Lane?

Six years ago there weren’t too many labels in the marketplace and I saw a gap in the middle commercial market of fashion that was wanting for more style, edge and individuality. So I named the label, Piper Lane, literally like naming a baby. I didn’t want to just give her one name, she needed two and voilà, here she is going on six years!

What do you see in the future for Piper Lane?

Gosh i see so much for Piper Lane. The sky and beyond is limitless for her. In the near future definitely more Piper Lane boutiques and really ramping up our online presence.

What do you think about Sydney style?

Hmm I might get shot for this… Sydney is a city where there is so much emphasis put on the external, keeping up with the Joneses which lends itself to a homogenous look and every girl looks like the next. What I love about the Gen Y’s and Z’s coming into their own is that they so don’t give a s@$t about what others think and are dressing for themselves.

For me style and dress are about self expression, not about conforming.

What is your favourite thing about Sydney?

Definitely the diversity of the people and culture. And we have some of the best beach spots ever. We have clean water, a gorgeous harbour city, great fashion. We’ve got it made here.

Check out the Piper Lane blog, or like them on Facebook.

Any self-respecting Sydney Fashionista worth her Isabel Marant Ankle Boots has spent a pretty penny or two in The Corner Shop Paddington, one of the many boutiques in Belinda Seper’s Australian retail empire. Situated just off Oxford St on the sleepy shopping strip of William St – home to consignment stores to the stars Di Nuovo and Pelle, Australian designers Lucette and Natasha and Belinda Seper’s eponymous store; Belinda, The Corner Shop is an ode to all things hip and cool. With lashings of downtown New York, a touch of Parisienne aloofness and a smattering of London punk, the boutique has been moulding the style of Sydney bright young things for just under 10 years.

What’s not to love about the cosy surrounds of a poky little corner shop, filled with odd things like fairy lights, old wooden antler chandeliers, brocade curtains and a bench out the front for hip hang-outs? Certainly it helps that amongst the bric-a-brac (is that a bicycle? And can I buy it?) is a veritable gold mine of international and Australian designers. From 3.1 Philip Lim to Nathan Smith, Twenty8Twelve to Josh Goot, and jewellery from ManiaMania, Jordy Askill and Billy Bride, The Corner Shop has every style niche covered. If one day you want to be a smouldering so-frenchy-so-chic girl, then try on some Isabel Marant Etoile and come-hither Carven. If the next it’s a question of a laid-back Aussie beach bunny slip into a Flannel shirt in ice cream pastels and super-luxe Bassike, well, basics.

There’s something for everyone, and here at On the Streets of Sydney we love it all. We spoke to the buyer for The Corner Shop Elise Pioch and Talisa Sutton who runs The Corner Shop blog to learn all about this hipper-than-thou shopping hub. Ladies, form an orderly queue!

When did The Corner Shop open?

It opened in 2001, almost 10 years ago!

Why did you choose Paddington?

At the time Belinda chose this location because it was away from the buzz of the big shopping streets, it was a residential streets with no other shops (except Colette Dinnigan who is gone now) and the shop was on the corner of two streets – compulsory to be called a Corner Shop!

How does the Paddington store differ from the Strand Arcade store?

The city store is heaving with busy working women, overseas visitors and fashion forward fans, it has a fast pace and a very eclectic feel. On the other hand, the Paddington storei s more about fashionistas or young mohters who take their time to pick out the latest fashions. They both carry different labels to double the pleasure of visiting our stores!

What labels do you carry?

We carry about 100 different local and international brands… Isabel Marant, Suno, Carven, Phillip Lim, Rachel Comey and Emma Cook are amongst them.

Which Australian designers do you stock?

We work with Karla Spetic, Arnsdorf, Ellery, Christopher Esber, Konstantina Mittas, Josh Goot, Bassike and much more…

What is your favourite label?

Elise: Very hard question… at the moment we are all very excited about the arrival of the Racquel Allegra collection from the US…

Talisa: I love Phillip Lim! My favourite piece for next season is the perforated leather shorts.

How does The Corner Shop differ from Belinda?

The Corner Shop has customers who are playful, not too serious or fashion focused. The Belinda customer is more insterested in style than fashion, she is sophisticated and she used to shop at The Corner Shop!

Tell us about the design and decoration of the store, how does it reflect the vibe of the store itself?

Elise: This store is like a cabinet of curiosity where you need to hunt to find THE piece. It is filled with objects, vases, ladders, curtains, paintings; it is more a home than a shop. We even have the street cat, Swizzle, who sometimes comes in and has a snooze on the chairs… very relaxed.

Talisa: I think it’s really special that everyone is involved with the merchandising. Every girl who works at The Corner Shop has their own unique style and I think that is reflected in the store presentation, from the mannequin’s outfits to the shelf displays.

And finally… What is your favourite thing about Sydney?

Elise: My favourite thing about Sydney is Bronte Pool… nowhere else in the world can you find such a raw beautiful swimming pool, just 10 minutes from the city! And also Sydney offers the best Chai tea… yum.

Talisa: I love Beare Park in Elizabeth Bay. It’s right on the harbour but feels so quiet and isolated. I also love getting breakfast at Toby’s in Potts Point and Bunker in Darlinghurst.

Visit The Corner Shop Paddington at 43 William St, Paddington or phone (02) 9380 9828. They can also be reached by their email (paddo@thecornershop.com.au) or their blog (www.thecornershop.com.au).

Here at On the Streets of Sydney we like nothing more than celebrating everything young and creative about this city, primarily because we are a bunch of young creative types ourselves. And there is nothing more young and creative in fashion than the UTS graduate Fashion Show Preview, held on the 8^th December.

The graduating class of 2010 showed six look collections that spanned the spectrum of fashion from wearable, retro designs to the more avant-garde conceptual pieces via swimwear and a couple of decadent, beautiful realised evening looks. As a preview of the entire class’ talent and breadth of vision, it was fascinating. But as a stand alone fashion show in its own right, it was remarkable.

The best thing about the fashion show was witnessing the level of technical proficiency and skill that the graduates have. From Sarah Mok’s beautiful ombre pleating that fanned out from mini dresses and capes to the laser-cutting and brilliant texture – was that rubber? – of Lauren Becker’s circle skirts and tailored jackets there was a real mastery of design skills that can only signal good things for Sydney’s fashion industry in years to come. As we chatted to Yvan Rodic of  Face Hunter – seated directly in front of us – we mused over the exciting future for Sydney fashion. The span and variety of the design talent was nothing short of exhilarating. And while we are loath to make comparisons to current designers, who is to say that the next Nicky Zimmerman doesn’t lie in the folds of Pirra Griffith’s digital print swimsuits, or the next Christopher Kane in Rhiannon Gray’s plissé pleats and cute little party frocks? There were hints to current designers, but not lashings of them – enough to show that the graduating class of UTS 2010 was fully in tune with fashion without being a carbon copy.

Our picks of the preview show? The team was divided over our favourites. Our Creatve Director Hayley favoured the drama of Annika Pol, whose designs featured a blood red print splattered over white pieces. The look was gothic, eerie and totally captivating, with a soundtrack that bleated out “pray for me” and models who sauntered out half-dazed. Emily, our Contributing Fashion Editor’s favourite item was the spectacular navy blue plaid cape with strong shoulder and beaded detail along the neckline by Karima Hazim. Paired with an oversized pussy bow blouse and tailored pants the look was all about extravagance with a few nods to history – perfect to pair with a simple look for some of that Balmainia exuberance.

And me? Bizarrely what I loved most was Bronwyn O’Brien’s menswear collection. With pieces in a subdued palette of murky charcoals, navy blues, some rich chocolate browns and pops of creamy beiges the collection referenced history in the tunics and armour breast-plate detail on sweaters but also tapped into that modern sensibility for minimalism and refinement. Though I am no tomboy, I could certainly see myself wrapped up in those leather jackets with oversized shearling collars, or baggy colour-blocked track pants. Sign me up for some of that easy luxury please!

Some things in life are just perfectly pretty. There is simply no other word to describe them. Rosewater macarons, fields of softly, softly lavender and sparkly ballet flats to name a few. Add to that list the Mrs. Press Dressing Room boutique on Paddington’s busy Oxford Street.

Mrs. Press Dressing Room is the flagship store of Vogue Features Director turned designer, Clare Press. The shop is filled with her whimsical designs, a smattering of perfectly edited vintage, the Mrs. Press dressing table beauty range and the designs of close friends, like Fernando Frisoni and Inge Holst. The clothes themselves are just the ticket for spring time picture-perfect picnics – think silky playsuits in enchanting mint green, ballerina tutu skirts with layer upon layer of magical tulle and cute tea dresses in bold ivory. Big and white and full of light, the boutique is a welcome distraction from the chain stores that litter the Oxford Street shopping strip. Pretty, certainly, but it’s also pretty marvellous too.

We caught up with Mrs. Press Fashion Assistant Brooke Hart to hear all about their Paddington flagship store Mrs. Press Dressing Room over rosewater macarons, of course!

Tell us all about the store:

This is Mrs. Press Dressing Room and we’re in Paddington. We opened about 4 months ago now and we’ve been here in the offices upstairs for about 6 months. We used to be in Darlinghurst, in a little shop on Darlinghurst road, but then we moved here obviously. All Clare’s designs are inspired by vintage pieces, so she’ll take the sleeve of a gorgeous 1930s dress that she found at the market and use it as inspiration for modern garments. We’re vintage influenced, very classic and relaxed. It’s a lovely atmosphere where you like to use room spray and have rose petals and be grown up. Very chic!

Why did you choose Paddington?

We decided to move from Darlinghurst to Paddington for a couple of reasons. Mainly the better traffic, great location and the markets just across the road on Saturday. It’s really lovely being here. We have offices upstairs and it’s really light and airy and it suits us well.

Aside from Mrs. Press what labels do you stock?

We stock mainly Mrs. Press. We also stock a small amount of very, very special vintage. Clare has a bit of a vintage habit and she buys things which we stock in here. They’re all very popular. We also stock some Fernando Frisoni because he is a really good friend of Clare’s. He has some beautiful pieces that fit into our design aesthetic and it’s really lovely to have those here as well. We also have some headpieces, neck-pieces, brooches and bits and pieces from an artist friend of ours called Inge Holst. She hand makes every single thing and she hand cuts every single petal from vintage millinery tools. A single head piece will take her around 24 hours to complete in total, so they are very special. For some of them she takes the fabric and dips it in a weak solution of tea to give it a vintage look. That really encapsulates what we’re about, that special knowledge that a lot of work has gone into something. All our pieces are hand made in Australia by a seamstress, there are no factories or anything, everything is cut and made in Australia, so that is what makes our pieces special.

What look were you going for in the design of the store?

We wanted something very chic and open, slightly minimalist but also with that very Clare tendency to have vintage things everywhere. Our store in Darlinghurst was a lot more filled with bits and bobs and very cute – books and decorations and all that – whereas our Paddington store is more open. It’s very white, airy and light. Clean, simple but still beautiful.

What is your favourite thing about Mrs. Press Dressing Room?

I love walking in here in the morning and the light is streaming in, the pretty smells of the Mrs.Press Dressing Table products and the beautiful clothes. It is such a lovely place to work.

What is your favourite thing about Sydney?

I love that there is always more to find in Sydney. I love that the urban sprawl is so huge that you can spend a day in inner western Sydney and not even see anything. I love that there is always more out there to see and enjoy.

Visit Mrs. Press Dressing Room at 436 Oxford St Paddington, (02) 9331 7732. Or go to their website for catalogues and their online store. Or if you still can’t get enough, try the Mrs.Press blog, where Clare Press shares all the pretty things in her life.

In a world of same-old jewellery – hippie beads and too-cool crucifixes – it is refreshing to find a label that focuses on the unique and individual in design and construction. Enter TMOD, a label started in 2007 by former COFA classmates Georgie Swift and Milenka Osen. With an eye for the weird and wonderful, TMOD captures that sense of beautiful uneasiness in our world. Bracelets that snake up wrists, milky stones that spin around pendants and pieces inspired by braille are just a few of the designs that Georgie and Milenka have exhibited through TMOD. Everything successfully fuses the visual with the physical – it is just as important to touch and feel the pieces as it is to wear them. We caught up with designers Georgie and Milenka who showed us how they dress for a day On the Streets of Sydney.