Category Archives: Cats I Know

Cats I Know Fashion Lookbooks

CATS I KNOW: LAUREN STEIN. (& A HER PONY GIVEAWAY!)

November 5, 2012 – 11:37 am

I’ve talked up my love of Melbourne boutique label ‘Her Pony‘ before, so I am sure you guys can understand how excited I am to have teamed up with the designer Lauren to bring you a pretty awesome giveaway. It’s to celebrate the release of the brand new summer collection, full of feminine lace, sweet-as-pie frocks, hyper tie-dye and all of the dreaminess you can come to expect of the label. Want some proof? Here are some of my favourite looks from the new range:

Dreamy right? Before we get onto the giveaway though, I caught up with Lauren while she was in transit from Bali to Melbourne to bring you the next installment of ‘Cats I Know’. Lauren is one of those effortlessly chic girls (you know the ones you pass on the street and do a double take because they just radiate that something special) – and her label is an extension of her own personality and style. I asked her to “finish the sentence” and this is what she came back to me with…

My name is … Lauren … and I am a … Melbourne born, sewing obsessed, clothing addict / hoarder.
My label is called “Her Pony” because … like most little girls I dreamt of having my own pony… I don’t have one yet but maybe one day!
I started it because … of a chance meeting. I showcased a couple of garments for fun in a charity fashion show one night and was approached by a buyer! At this point I had only been making clothes for my friends and myself so it was a very exciting moment.
Her Pony is all about … creating beautiful limited edition and bespoke garments that are unique and feminine.
When I was a child I used to dream about … becoming an equestrian show jumper … because … I loved the preppy riding uniform.
My dream day would involve … sleeping in, shopping and sunshine!
The most important thing in a girl’s wardrobe is … the perfect pair of heels and a little white dress.
My favorite piece in this season’s collection is … the Mila Hawaii print pants … because … I love anything high waisted and the print is amazing!
When I’m not busy designing up a storm, you can find me … chilling in Bali, or out and about in Melbourne hunting vintage fabrics and treasures.
My favourite place in Melbourne is … Madame Brussels in the summertime for a jug of Pimms!

And now, the most exciting part! Lauren is kindly offering a Style Paws reader their very own lemon yellow ‘Flora’ dress (as above). Available in sizes 6 – 14, this delightful little number is the perfect summer frock and part of the brand new ‘Her Pony’ collection.

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Like the Her Pony Facebook page here
(Psst.. you may want to like the Style Paws one too!)

2. Comment here with your name, e-mail address and tell me where or to what occasion would you want to rock your new Her Pony dress?

The giveaway closes on Wednesday 21st of November. Good luck! x

Coming soon I will be posting a photoshoot showing you how I like to wear my favourite pieces from the collection so stay tuned! You can shop ‘Her Pony’ and find a full list of stockists here.

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Cats I Know Fashion Interviews

CATS I KNOW: LAUREN BURVILL.

October 15, 2012 – 2:06 pm

Confession time = I am making an exception to the rule of ‘Cats I Know’ and featuring a friend who a) is not a cat lover – she much prefers dogs – and b) is a person I am yet to meet in person. But the thing about Lauren is that I can just tell we are kindred spirits and/or soul mates. Our love of all things bohemian, rock and roll and 70s is very much a bond that defies geographical boundaries. Not to mention she is the only person who has ever been able to articulate what the film ‘Almost Famous’ means to me.

Lauren is Brisbane-based and works full time as a travel writer for Flight Centre/Student Flights (hello, dream job alert) and also writes freelance fashion bits and pieces for The Vine and Broadsheet. You can also soon read her creative words in SPOOK magazine, for Ellery and All That Remains. She says her other main passions in life are watching ‘Parks and Recreation’ and eating cheese. (See! Soulmates!) She’s currently going through a full-blown fetta phase (Me too Lauren… me too).

  • In another life I was a mermaid.
  • If it was socially acceptable I would drape myself in velvet all the time.
  • I believe restaurants should just serve breakfast all day, every day.

  • Paris for the romance.
  • Tokyo for the adventure.
  • Vanuatu for the waterfalls.

  • Throughout my travels, some of the best vintage shopping I have found was in Brugge, a medieval town in Belgium.
  • Unexpectedly, I really loved Norfolk Island. I went there for work and loved it so much I went back there earlier this year with my mum. There’s a rawness to it that is so beautiful. It feels incredibly untouched and rugged.
  • Out of all the destinations I’ve written about, I’m dying to go to Mexico. I’ve done so much research and I’m really fascinated by their Cenotes. They look like the most magical places on earth.

  • “California Love” by Tupac and Dr. Dre
  • “Mary Please” by the Brian Jones Town Massacre
  • “Gimme Shelter” by the Rolling Stones

  • I think to date, nothing has beaten being able to interview Stephen Jones for Vogue.com.au.
  • Actually, while it’s not strictly related to my career, having my career hero Tim Blanks tell me that I looked lovely and that it was ‘a perfect day to be wearing velvet’ was pretty surreal.
  • More recently, I was given the opportunity to channel my creative writing into writing the press release for Mania Mania’s upcoming collection, which was really exciting. There’s nothing better than being able to write for labels that you really connect with and believe in.

  • To be honest, I really don’t follow many blogs. I think because there are just so many and I find it difficult to come across ones with substance that are really engaging. The endless images kind of give me a headache. But one I am completely obsessed with is Stylelikeu. It’s just so pure and relates to what makes street style so fascinating, but then takes it to another level by having people discuss their style and their journey. It’s not about trends or selling anything and there’s no right or wrong answer. It’s just about showcasing personal creativity which to me is what fashion is all about.

  • Pens, coloured pencils and paper. Travel tends to really bring out my creative side. Particularly when there is a language barrier. I like to people watch and sketch at the same time.

  • Travel to the USA! I’ve been going through a huge West Coast phase for far too long now.
  • I’d also love to get published in a national glossy again – magazines are definitely not dead to me.
  • And I’ve promised myself that I will go to Australian Fashion Week next year. I’ve been absent for two years and there are so many people that I have been in contact with that I really want to meet.

You can follow Lauren’s delightful work here on her website.

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Cats I Know Interviews

CATS I KNOW: JO BEAN POWER.

October 3, 2012 – 4:03 pm

I know what you’re thinking. What? Another “Cats I Know” interview already? Another awesome giveaway already? Well folks, it’s your lucky day. (Actually it’s 100% MY lucky day, as last night I thought I had lost my blog forever because I’m an egg who likes to break things without backing them up, but this morning all hope was restored to the universe).

I tell most people that I first met card-maker extraordinaire Jo Bean Power of “Things by Bean” fame at uni. We were both studying journalism and together we created a pretty marvellous radio show called ‘Blue Skies’. It was a one-off deal, but I like to think we were total pros. The truth is however, that I first met Bean in the band room of the Corner Hotel in Richmond. We bonded over a bottle of wine and then promptly passed out. Classy.

Needless to say, Bean is a fabulous, funny and truly wonderful card maker and human being.  In fact you probably got to this very blog page from searching for her, not me. Her greeting cards are the type that you wish you had been clever enough to come up with – cheeky one liners that say it all. Here are some of my faves:

I asked the talented Bean to take my official worksheet challenge, and her answers do not disappoint…

Bean has also been kind enough to offer a lucky Style Paws reader their very own set of five ‘Things by Bean’ greeting cards mailed straight to their doorstep!

How to enter:

To enter, simply leave a comment on this blog post telling me who you’d like to give a card to and why!
Be sure to include a contact e-mail address.
Entries close on Friday 12th October, 5pm. Good luck!

Find out more about “Things by Bean” and become a Facebook fan here.

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Cats I Know Interviews

CATS I KNOW: NIC WILSON.

September 26, 2012 – 4:51 pm

Nic Wilson is one of my favourite people. By day he is the lead guitarist in indie-rock band British India, by night he moonlights as an aspiring filmmaker. Actually, he technically plays music by night and makes films by day… but you geddit. He is the type of person who is always reading something cooler than you – except once, when he was reading “Fev” – and he is such an excellent musician that it kind of makes me want to give up. Somewhere between all that (if you want to be precise, I believe it was between Perth and Scarborough), he has the time to fill in questionnaires I write, 99% for my own amusement. And don’t I just love to ask the big questions. This is super hard-hitting – you’ve been warned.

RE: Fill in the blanks

Hello, my name is NIC WILSON. I am a SAINTS FAN from WAY BACK.

You might know me from MY BAND, BRITISH INDIA or maybe even YOUR NIGHTMARES.

In my spare time I enjoy WATCHING FILMS VARYING FROM MEDIOCRE TO AWFUL, however I can often be found doing AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE as well.

I am notorious for BEING SHY and a hidden talent I have is UNTYING KNOTS.

SILENT BOB is how some people describe me, but I would tell them to GO F%^&* THEMSELVES.

My favourite moment this year was when “SURVIVOR” STARTED AGAIN.

SAX SOLO’S are something that generally piss me off but I do get a fuzzy feeling when I see BEAGLES AT THE AIRPORT.

WERNER HERZOG is my lifelong hero. If we met, I would ask him about ADOPTING ME.

I feel like “JACKANINNY” is a word that doesn’t get used often enough.

The best advice I have ever been given is “NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT ‘GOOD’ IS, SO ALWAYS GO IN WITH NO CHINKS IN THE ARMOUR AND MAKE THEM BELIEVE IT’S GOOD…” – GEORGE YOUNG.

The song I am most proud of writing is “NOWHERE BOYS” and my favourite one to play live is “BLACK & WHITE RADIO” AS IT HERALDS THE END OF THE SET.

My favourite YouTube video is “GIRL WITH A LEEK” – PERHAPS NOT MY FAVOURITE, BUT GETS OVER THE LINE FOR SHEER VOLUME OF PLAYS.

NOODLE KINGDOM is overrated.

I would like to shamelessly self-promote MY PRODUCTION COMPANY, “CAREFUL STRANGER(S)”. You can find out more about it here.

{Image credits: Self-portrait by Nic, Photo by me, Background image from WeHeartIt}

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Cats I Know

CATS I KNOW: ALICE WILLIAMS.

September 3, 2012 – 9:23 am

I can’t really remember the first time I met Alice Williams, but since that fateful day we have worked on many projects together which have included but were not limited to; covering fashion weeks,  smashing a lot of dumplings and attending events where we generally hover around the booze/canapé area and judge people. As one of the most talented writers I know, not to mention a very good friend, I feel she is the perfect subject for introducing this newest feature of my blog – “Cats I Know”.

Alice is a freelance writer who has written for lots of your fave publications, is the owner of my favourite Twitter feed and probably wears a better bold red lipstick than you, myself and the cast of Mad Men put together.

She will be covering New Zealand Fashion Week for Style Paws (what a delight!) so here is an interview I did with her earlier. In a display of true journalistic professionalism, I am going to copy and paste the transcript from our Facebook Chat.

Friday 31st August: Lunch break

Sam: Yo honey boo boo, let’s start the ball rolling. How do you think other people would describe you?

AW: Oh god. Jesus, way to start light Sam. THAT’S TOTALLY NOT A QUESTION THAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT OR ANYTHING.

Sam: Should we start with “How are you”?

AW: I’m not sure. Loud? Hilarious? Devastatingly attractive in an approachable way? That’s the answer to both questions.

Sam: Hahahaha good one. What has been your most memorable experience as a writer so far?

AW: Someone mistook me for Marieke Hardy at a literary do once so I licked them on the ear. And, getting sent two litres of vodka. OH AND ONCE HELEN RAZER RETWEETED ONE OF MY TWEETS.

Sam: Do you find that licking people is a good ice breaker in general?

AW: Only if they think you’re someone WAY more famous than you are. I like that that guy will probably meet the real Marieke one day and be like…wait…who the fuck…?

Sam: What’s been your fave project to work on so far?

AW: Working at SPOOK magazine was a pretty big part of my life for a long time. I was there for the first issue and am still the only full time, paid staff they’ve had so that was pretty fortuitous.

Sam: SPOOK is how we met I think. Since then I have had the pleasure of getting to know you quite well. You’re actually like an older sister to me. What’s the best sisterly advice you would ever give?

AW: Naw! Sam! Don’t ever, ever cut your own fringe or sign up for a gym membership over 6 months.

Sam: Oh my god. I have done both of these. Why did you have to come into my life when I was already in my mid-20s?!

AW: I don’t know, it seems like a massive waste of time for me too. I didn’t even have Twitter before you. And you told me about ASOS.

Sam: Speaking of the #fashunz, we better cover some of that. When you think of New Zealand and fashion, what comes to mind first?

AW: Possums. There is an initiative in NZ to eradicate possums because they are a pest, so I’m hoping to see a lot of possum fur. That’s about it.

Sam: Haha, very environmental. Do you have any fashion advice to impart?

AW: I’m not a total fashion maven, like yourself. But I do think it’s a fun and important form of self expression. I read this great piece by Briohny Doyle yesterday and she described her fashion sense as “a carefully nuanced collage of influence from the history of cinema, music and fashion”, and I really liked that.

Sam: Good answer AW!

AW: I totally stole it off Briohny.

Sam: I heard a quote about good writers stealing and not borrowing or something once.

AW: Ha, Good Poets Borrow, Great Poets Steal.

Sam: I guess that makes you a Great Poet.

AW: Or a lazy writer.

Sam: ANYWAY! What are you hoping to get out of NZFW professionally and personally?

AW: Lots of tiny make-up samples.

Sam: I got my oddest PR gift yet today actually. It was a gift box full of pens.

AW: No, not really – don’t put that. Meeting new people, getting to check out some NZ designers – of which there are many exciting new ones! WAIT THEY WEREN’T THOSE BIC LADY PENS WERE THEY?

Sam: No, they are colourful Papermate ones called “Inkjoy”. Why?

AW: Ohh, nice! No, I just heard some people got sent them and it’s so funny. They are these “Special” pens for ladies. God knows what women were using before.

Sam: “Bic for HER?” Baahahah this is the best thing I’ve seen all week. It’s like it’s a new eau de parfum or something.

AW: It’s hilarious. Silly women! You can’t use man pens!

Sam: I just have one more question for you. We spoke before of you being a Lazy Writer/Great Poet – can you please write me a poem? I’m going to sell it on eBay one day. Oh and I’ll also need to know where we can find more of your coverage of NZFW.

AW: Oh, well please follow my abysmal study of the fashions of New Zealand daily on The Vine, in print for SPOOK and Fjorde magazine, and on my own site. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. Every time I get a click an angel gets his wings.

Sam: How poetic.

Make sure you stay tuned to Style Paws as Alice goes undercover (not really) at New Zealand Fashion Week (really).
Photo source: Alice’s Facebook, of course.

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