Dress- Angel Baby Boutique
Heels- Kmart
Clutch- Mimco
MY TIME AT COSMO
2 AprMy love affair with magazines started when I was about 10 years old and each month I would beg my mother to buy me Smash Hits and TV Hits so I could keep up with all of the latest celebrities and music. This quickly progressed to Dolly and Girlfriend magazine and eventually during High School- Cosmopolitan and Cleo magazine. I never missed an issue and saved all of my birthday money so I would ensure I had enough each month for my mags.
Last year I was getting itchy feet and needed to study, extend my brain and pursue some of my other interests. I eventually settled on a Diploma in Fashion Styling and threw myself into it. While I loved the theoretical components I felt as though I needed real hands on experience and that’s when the brain wave came over me- why not try and apply for some work experience at Cosmopolitan magazine in the fashion department. They were my stepping stone into womanhood and I had adored the styling work of Nicole Adolphe for years.
So naively I emailed Cosmopolitan and thought- what’s the worst that can happen? They can say no? Well the worst didn’t happen and the delightful fashion office manager Kayla said yes! I was thrilled and could not wait! I didn’t even care that I was giving up my day job holidays for this experience.
So a couple of weeks later I picked up my things and flew to Sydney to start my adventure. I was excited, nervous, apprehensive and eager. I couldn’t believe I would be going to work at Park Street and watch behind the scenes of something I had been a fan of for many many years.
The first morning I arrived almost an hour early and enjoyed the novelty of the commute Into my favourite city and past the iconic opera house and harbour. I went Into the food court and tried to settle my nerves by reading the latest issue of cosmopolitan and trying to eat something. Eventually, 20 minutes before I was due to start I crossed the road and entered 54 Park Street.
From the second I entered the building I was mesmerised. Security Guards at the front desk, glamorous magazine women, photographers, makeup artists, models. I felt like I was in a movie and was given my own access pass and taken up to the Cosmopolitan Offices.
My nerves quickly subsided as I was thrown straight into work. My first lesson was a ‘dock run’. I was told that this was something that was several times a day. I had absolutely no idea what I was in for. The dock run it turns out is the time of day when all the products that designers, PR Brands and companies send in are picked up and bought up to the office for sorting. I was in fashion heaven. Hundreds of boxes a day filled with Alex Perry, Manning Cartel, Rachel Gilbert, ZIMMERMANN, Sass and Bide, Louis Vuitton and every other brand you can dream of. Talk about a dream job- I was more than happy spending twelve hours opening and discovering new season stock that was begging to be chosen to appear on the pages of the magazine. The page space for fashion spreads in a women’s lifestyle magazine is limited so the editing process is brutal. A garment could be in the office no more than a few minutes before it is wrapped back up and sent back if it is not right for a upcoming story or feature.
Another part of the experience I throughly enjoyed was venturing into the city and making connections with employers from the bricks and mortar stores that stock comes from. Picking up and returning items from stores and seeing the glimmer of hope in their eyes that their brand would be the one chosen to appear on the pages. Some were lucky some not so much. I had one disaster while completing this takes when I walked from the Cosmopolitan offices to Myer to return some shoes. A couple of hours later the office received a phone call saying that the shoes in the boxes were not correct and I had given them the incorrect box from a competitor. Back I went pounding the Sydney streets in heels desperate to fix the middle up. Needless to say, I learnt very quickly to check the boxes before returning them.
I breathed in the air when Head Stylist Nicole Adolphe and Senior Stylist Charlotta Backlund were in the office. Those women work hard and it is no where near as glamorous as The Devil Wears Prada made out. Hustling with council agencies to gain permits for photo shoots, working with budgets, sourcing props and locations, co-ordinating shoots, liasing with models, photographers and make-up artists, editing through stacks of clothing to ensure they have made the right choices and dealing with celebrity demands for the cover shot. I was in awe of these women and was too scared to even speak to them. The reality was the two of them were so lovely and kind and couldn’t have been more patient to someone who was probably in their way and a hindrance rather than a help.
I was fortunate enough to be invited to assist on two photo shoots while I was at Cosmo. The first was in house at the Bauer offices and was with one of the stylists- Cassie. Cassie was so helpful and lovely and allowed me to prepare the garments for the shoot and pin them to the wall ready for the photographer. This shoot was for the photography of the garments for a shoot without a model and the clothes appear flat on the pages. I learnt so many tricks and hints from Cassie about creating shape and form with a body within the clothing.
The second shoot was off site at Alexandria. For what felt like the hundredth time in a week I was in awe of the grandness of the sets. This time it was a bridal shoot for Cosmopolitan Bridal Magazine. Lotta Backland was so generous with her time, knowledge and expertise and allowed myself under the guidance of Kayla style and choose the some the looks and accessories for a couple of the looks. I was scared to steam and prepare bridal gowns that were worth thousands of dollars. I was terrified I would burn a hole in the chiffon so moved at a snails pace.
I soaked in every moment of the process from the model arriving, hair and make-up application, the wardrobe edit, dressing the model, sourcing props and ultimately creating beautiful images for the pages of the magazine. I know that some people may become jaded after working in this industry for many years and find this whole experiences routine and boring but I was in absolute heaven. I wanted to stay on set forever and create art in the form of fashion.
I had an absolutely amazing time at Cosmopolitan magazine and I leant so many hands on skills that no pages of a textbook could ever teach me. I would like to thank the team at Cosmo for being so generous with their time especially- Kayla, Cassie and Lotta. I will forever be grateful to say that I worked at one of the most iconic magazines in the world.
STYLING
26 MarI had the pleasure of styling my good friend Chloe recently. Chloe wanted some advice about how to make her current wardrobe work harder for her to create new and fresh outfit combinations. Like many of us, Chloe felt that she relied heavily on a small number of items in her wardrobe and had many brand new, unworn items that she had no idea how to style.
I styled Chloe in three main looks- evening, work and casual and she was thrilled with her new looks that she never would have dreamed of putting together herself.
Look number one was an evening look. Chloe tended to stick to a very neutral colour palette and did not venture into the world of colour. She had this beautiful white and floral dress which had never been worn that I knew would look stunning on her. The cut outs accentuated her tiny waist and the bright colours lifted her complexion.
Look two was a more formal look for work. As Chloe is just starting to pave her way into her profession she felt her style was too young for the workplace. I helped her pair together some basic items in her wardrobe which gave her a more streamlined and polished look. This look is professional yet youthful.
The final look was a casual look. Chloe had this beautiful kimono in her wardrobe but had never worn it as she felt it made her appear bulky. By putting it together with a khaki crop top and high waisted white denim skirt it gave her a more layered and fresh look.
WHAT I WORE
26 MarA simple monochromatic look for a Brisbane Autumn evening.
Playsuit- Little JC Boutique
Heels- Famous Footwear
Clutch- Kmart
Earrings- Lovisa
WHO WORE IT BEST?
1 FebCarla Zampatti’s 1970’s influenced black catsuit never looked so good.
Who wore it best? Jackie Henderson, Tina Arena or Terry Biviano?
STEAL HER STYLE – JODI GORDON
28 Jan
Jodi Gordon
Self- Portrait Desss- available online.
The Daily Edited Personalised Monogram Pouch- Available online
Tony Bianco Heels- Available online
AUSTRALIA DAY
26 JanThere’s something that makes Australian fashion stand out from the rest of the world. Relaxed, modern, fashion forward, chic and effortless. Australian women know how to dress. To celebrate Australia Day here is a compilation of my favourite Australian fashion girls. Enjoy and don’t forget to eat a lamination and some lamb today!
Jodi Gordon
Jesinta Campbell
Lara Worthington
Justine Cullen
Christine Centenera
Cheyenne Tozzi
Jennifer Hawkins
Jess Gomes
Miranda Kerr
Pip Edwards
Megan Gale
THE POWER OF SCENT
25 JanSmell is a very powerful sense and a single scent can evoke a flood of memories. Whether it’s the smell of freshly baked bread, the salty sea breeze or your mums cooking, smell can be incredibly comforting and calming.
Every woman has her signature scent or scents depending on the occasion and mood. Here I share my top five fragrances that are on rotation and when I wear them.
Armani is my all time favourite. I wear this on very special occasions like my wedding day.
Issy Myake is my go to scent when I am feeling stressed or nervous and need some calming.
Lulu is my mothers fragrance that reminds me of my childhood. This one is definitely worn to family occasions.
Angel is a very heavy scent and reserved for night time.
Kim Kardashian’s perfume is light and feminine which is perfect for work.
THE POWER OF A SHOE
24 JanShoes are a simple way of updating your wardrobe without a huge price tag. A killer pair of heels can take an outfit you have worn a hundred times before and give it a brand new lease of life.
Four of my favourite shoes brands are a good mix of the more expensive to the ‘so cheap you can buy one in every colour’. I love shoes and depending on my mood and bank balance, I tend to rotate between high end like Senso and Tony Bianco for special occasions and the More affordable Famous Footwear and Rubi Shoes for everyday wear.
I have done an edit of my top picks of the current range of Senso, Tony Bianco, Famous Footwear and Rubi Shoes. All products are available on their website or in store.
http://www.famousfootwear.com.au
http://cottonon.com/AU/shop-by-brand/rubi-shoes/?region=AU
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- SENSO
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- SENSO
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- SENSO
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- SENSO
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- RUBI SHOES
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- RUBI SHOES
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- RUBI SHOES
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- RUBI SHOES
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- FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
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- FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
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- FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
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- FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
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- TONY BIANCO
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- TONY BIANCO
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- TONY BIANCO
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- TONY BIANCO
shadesofcool 
