Category Archives: Opinion
Stylist’s Picks of the Month
This week our gorgeous Stylist Lizzie Macpherson shares with us some of her top picks of the season. From oversized knits to tailored skirts and cute dresses, all in the seasons latest hues – we can’t help but get inspired to try something new! Do you have a favourite?
1. Oversized Gathered Top – A great layering piece for the ever changing weather- in mustard or warm tones takes on an Autumn look.
2. Chiffon dress – An easy look, great to take from Autumn into winter, throw on tights, boots and a leather jacket for a thrown together ensemble- could also be worn as an oversized top.
3. Peace Out Tee – Love a statement printed Tee, another great piece to add to a casual outfit for a bit of kick.
4. Oversized Knit Jumper – Loving this burgundy/maroon colour tone for the upcoming winter months- anything knitted too for a comfortable/chic look.
5. Pleated Flared Mini Skirt – I can never go past a skirt with a great cut, it’s super easy to take this one from day to night; team it with a collared shirt and knit plus a pair of suede ankle boots for a preppy look.
For more style inspiration, head here: www.supre.com.au
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Stylist’s Picks of the Month
Want to know the key looks of the season- styles that you should be investing in? Check out our Stylist’s Picks of the Month to get your wardrobe inspiration. Build your wardrobe on staples- styles for everyday that are simple and easy to mix and match to help create your overall look. And note well- a cute dress is a season must have- despite the cooler temperatures!
What’s the key trend you’ll be looking to invest in this season? Get your inspiration here.
Filed under: Fashion, Opinion
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Real people, real fashion
24-year-old Spanish model/designer/stylist/blogger Gala Gonzalez breathes fashion on and off the runway. Now living in London, she’s heading down to our part of the world in August to blog about Australian fashion, attend fashion events and see the sights – probably in that order. Gonzalez’ personal style is a fusion of high-end fashion, chain store finds and vintage chic. She posts her looks and photo shoots on her blog – www.am-lul.blogspot.com.
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The popularity of Gonzalez’ blog can be attributed in part to her much-lusted-over ability to effortlessly throw together a Chanel look on a SUPRÉ budget. Gonzalez has inspired girl crushes world-wide and quickly risen to online fame with her high/low aesthetic, grunge glam and rock-chic look. She has a community of loyal followers who hang on her every tweet, try and emulate her unique style and can identify with her more than a faceless editorial spread in Vogue or advertisement in Harper’s Bazaar magazine.
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Gonzalez is one of a select group of fashion bloggers growing in importance among the fashion Twitterati. Other cyber ‘it’ girls include Tavi Gevinson (The Style Rookie), Susanna Lau (Style Bubble), Rumi Neely (Fashion Toast), Jane Aldridge (Sea of Shoes), Karla Deras (Karla’s Closet), Lulu Chang (Everybody is Ugly) and Garance Dore (Une Fille Comme Moi), who is dating Scott Schuman (The Sartorialist). He was named by Time magazine in 2007 as one of the top 100 design influences.
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Style Rookie
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Sea of Shoes
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Fashion designers trying to cash in on their fame and credibility are inviting young influential style commentators to blog or vlog live at international runway shows and take front-row position alongside media icons like editor-in-chief US Vogue Anna Wintour and International Herald Tribune fashion editor Suzy Menkes. They are sent free clothes and accessories and asked to collaborate with designers. Marc Jacobs even named a handbag after notorious blogger Bryanboy . However, not all of the industry is happily buying into the fashion blogger phenomenon.
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In an article published in The Australian earlier this year, Vogue Australia’s online editor Damien Woolnough called fashion bloggers ‘digital dictators’, and implied they were only interested in seeking fame and did not belong with the ‘real fashion journalists’. Ouch! So have bloggers lost their unique fashion voice and become fashion pimps? In a video about fashion blogs, Menkes who has wholeheartedly embraced the Web 2.0 movement was understandably worried that young naive bloggers may accept free gifts in return for coverage but not fully understand the implication of Louboutins for comment.
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And the best thing? Anyone with a computer, Internet connection, digital camera and creativity can be a fashion blogger and become part of this fashion revolution. You can create your own blog on sites like Blogger, which hosts Gonzalez’s work, Gevinson site, The Sartorialist’s blog and even his sometimes catty fellow blogger The Catoralist. Sites like Chictopia, MyStyleDiary, and Polyvore also allow you to create your own lookbook and showcase your fashion finds and personal style to the world.
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So what are you waiting for? Put down that fashion magazine – start creating your fashion reality and building your own brand. Take it to the streets, start blogging and walk in the four-inch heels of Gonzalez – or ballet slippers as in the case of teen Gevinson. It could be just a fun hobby or may even lead to a new international fashion career that you never dreamed could be possible. With the internet, the world is your fashion oyster.
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Filed under: Featured, Lifestyle, Opinion
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For all shapes and sizes
There has been a lot of debate lately over SUPRÉ sizing; with many comments suggesting that SUPRÉ only caters for ‘skinny girls’. As a Head Designer for SUPRÉ I work closely with every style that goes in store and I am responsible for ensuring the best fit possible for each garment. I want to explain to you – our customers, our design processes and how SUPRÉ sizing works.
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Our broad target market means that SUPRÉ needs to provide an extensive range of sizes to cater for girls of all ages and body shapes. The fact is, when it comes to sizing, every girl is unique. From 3XS to XL, SUPRÉ sizing covers a wider size range than most brands in Australia. Also because of the size and number of SUPRÉ stores, we often also stock a wider range of garments than most other retailers, ensuring that there is a style to suit every girl and every size. I have personally realised that at 22, and with my body shape, I will not fit into a size XXS, but there are still thousands of younger and older girls out there who do. The models we use in our campaigns are also a healthy size 10, which is in the middle of our size range.
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In our design office we use an Australian Standard Size 10 [Size S] house model to do all our fittings, ensuring a constant fit throughout all styles. All of our garments are fitted to this size S body and then each style is sized up and down accordingly using a standard grading and measurement system to complete the size range. Also at SUPRÉ we do not discriminate against any particular size with balanced size ratios being ordered for each style.
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I’d also like to thank everyone for their feedback – I can assure you your opinions are very valuable and helpful and I look forward to hearing more from you all in the future.
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Filed under: Featured, Opinion
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All around Asia
Meet and get to know Teigan Nash – model/presenter from Cronulla who’s style is inspired by Asian fashion.
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Q. We heard you’ve been travelling Asia. Share with us your adventures.
I’ve been experiencing different cultures, learning to cook and eating exotic foods and scoping out fashion for the past 5 months in Asia. I was in Singapore hosting and presenting live events; from make up to sports inspired fashion; mixing sports wear into everyday trends and making it fashionable.
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In Vietnam, I was on an eating odyssey. I ate so many delicious foods, learnt how to cook some traditional meals and was taught the ying and yang of each meal. It was so nice to experince their rich culture, meet their beautiful people in a country full of history.
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Q. What do you love about the fashion in Asia?
The shopping in Singapore was amazing. There were plenty of fashion bargains that could be found in flee markets featuring many young designers. One of my favourite purchases was an amazing crisp white jacket inspired by Lady Gaga; shoulder pads are such a massive hit!
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Now when it comes to being an individual, Tokyo fashion is in the forefront. They cover a vast variety of different styles which range from cute (kawaii), outrageously over the top, gothic, punk, urban street and whatever style you can think of, Tokyo has it and take it to the next level. Harajuku was so much fun! There were girls who were inspired by arts and crafts and even had them glued onto their eyebrows! They looks like a festival of colours, mixing and matching everything and somehow making it work.
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Having travelled to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam definitely added to my already oversized suitcase ( I ended up having to ship home two massive boxes of clothes… whoops)
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While travelling in Singapore, I found the SUPRÉ was extremely popular with girls of all ages and was indeed global; they loved the different styles, colours and variety SUPRÉ had to offer.
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I loved Asia and everything about it! But for now, I’m happy to be back in Sydney and seeing the gang from SUPRÉ.
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We’re definitely glad to have Teigan back on our shores. Check out Teigan in all the latest fashion in SUPRÉ.
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Filed under: Fashion, Featured, Lifestyle, Opinion
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Australian Made
Brand Conscious? Not as much as you think.
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Chances are four out of five of the garments you’re wearing right now were made in China. As increased cost competitiveness drives Australian manufacturers overseas in a bid to outsource cheaper methods of production, SUPRÉ is one Australian company with a commitment to keeping jobs local.
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All of the clothes are designed and developed in Australia, with 60% produced locally at the Marrickville HQ in Sydney, New South Wales where over 1,000 people are employed. The fashion brand’s commitment to retaining jobs in Australia is no just a cleaver marketing strategy but a core brand value that is paying off, with Director Hans van der Meulen emphasizing “We have a lot faster turnaround in Australia than in China. We can produce things here within a fortnight, in China it is a month.”
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Outsourced jobs are costing Australian economy millions in lost revenue, and contribute to a rising unemployment rate in the manufacturing sector as cheaper production in Asian markets create a downward pressure on local wages. SUPRÉ maintains its commitment to providing employment to it’s Marrickville workforce, believing what the benefits are ultimately passed on to the consumer. “We understand that our customers are after value for money without compromising on quality, and are happy to pay for an Australian brand they know and trust.”
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SUPRÉ has been a market leader in Young women’s fashion since 1984 and has grown international to include 170 stores across Australia and New Zealand.
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Filed under: Featured, Opinion
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Trends in moderation
By Ally Pickwell
It’s ok to have individual style to embrace trends and even to be confused about what to do.
In today’s society everyday we are bombarded with advertising and images, we live and communicate through technology, and it is essential to understand the latest trends and brands. It is a common misconception is that to fit in, you have to keep up with the latest looks and runway fashion, following trends. This has a huge effect on young women and amounts to huge pressure on trying to fit it. At this time in our lives we are all trying to find out who we really are and the question is do we need fashion trends or designer labels to feel a sense of belonging? Or what will people think of us if we do or don’t follow them?
At a crucial time of development in our lives it is important to fit it, but still nurture a sense of individuality. But really what are they and why do we need to follow them? Trends are movements that become fashionable, in terms of the fashion industry a trend may be defined by the amount of people that wear or purchase a certain look. Trends make different designers fashionable and set the tone for society. Is it important to always follow these? It makes you individual to embrace not only fashion trends but your own style. Some people need to follow trends to feel accepted or to give themselves confidence in a look. Trends are set by us the consumers, it is in our power to change the way trends are viewed or worn.
The biggest issue is whether or not to follow trends. Surrounded by ways to dress, what to wear and buy its hard to find trends that work for you. This is why some people resort to using trends in society and fashion to define them. It is ok to follow trends, for some people they allow security and the confidence to fit it. It is important to not let trends define you. A lot of young women loose a sense of individuality conforming to the ideals of society through clothing trends. Trends in moderation! It is important to have individual opinions and style.
.Some young women who are defined by what’s current in society, feel its ok to bully people based on what they wear. If you don’t follow trends, it means nothing but that you are individual. Fashion icons through the decades and today’s celebrities like Kate Moss, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, don’t follow trends they set them, they defined themselves by there own choices. Creating amazing fashion, and consequently there own trends! If you choose to follow trends or not it is your choice, and should not be influenced by your friends or the media. It is important not to loose a sense of who you are in an effort to fit it.
Trends can be a good thing. Having a norm in society allows everyone to feel a sense of equality, but what happens if everyone follows the same trends, it becomes boring. Trends come and go, and in order to fit in, keeping up with the changing nature of trends can become confusing, and it’s hard to follow. This is where trends become negative, they cause pressure for young women, and create the idea, that if trends in fashion aren’t followed a sense of disconnection from society and fitting in follows.
.Just as much as we influence trends by what we wear celebrities and the media have an influence on what we wear, and the trends we follow. It falls to celebrities to have a positive influence on trends, creating influential and interesting fashion. The amount of power generated by entertainers in the spotlight can also have negative effects not in just in fashion but in everyday life. Follow trends of celebrities who have a negative impact on young women can be permanently damaging on body image and individuality. Like celebrities the media influences popular brands and trends. It is important to filter the advertising and make your own decision about who we follow and what we wear. At the age we are now, we are finding out who we really are, trends can be confusing at time, it is hard to know what to follow, as its every changing. It is important to feel included in the trends of society but also hold on to individuality.
.Basically its important to encourage individuality, don’t be afraid to be original. It is also important to feel included in the ideals of society, to make decisions for yourself based on who you are. Following trends is a personal decision. Its ok to have individual style to embrace trends and even to be confused about what to do.
Feature Writer
Ally Pickwell is a year 12 design student, currently researching and creating her major work dress design for this years HSC. She has been studying design for six years and loves all things fashion. With hopes of having her own, fashion line one day, Ally is an avid shopper always looking for the perfect vintage shoes or must have piece. Surrounding herself in all things fashion, she’s one to watch!
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