Blogs > > Fashionable Culture

State of Design Festival 2009: Melbourne

Melbourne's State of Design Festival is almost upon us - and it's a perfect opportunity to step beyond the realms of fashion and explore other aspects of design, from architecture to technology to industrial design and everything in between. During the festival, Melbourne Open House will unlock some of the city's most magnificent architectural secrets; the festival's Speaker Series will host talks from over 20 influential people of the international design world; while This is Not a Design Market will cover a 2000 square meter warehouse space with fashion, jewellery, art, furniture and more. And those are just to name a few.

Afternoon Tea with Nadia Pearse of Made In Donald

Nadia Pearse is a designer to watch. The brains behind burgeoning label Made In Donald, her pieces are strictly limited and make to order. At a special afternoon tea event last month - presented by chic Prahran salon Blondes To Brunettes - Nadia spoke about the challenges of sustainable fashion; her many and varied influences; and her small home town of Donald, in which her garments are produced.

Lily Cole in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Model-turned-actors are a dime a dozen; but Lily Cole's unique looks and sparkling intellect mean she's not just another pretty face. At least, we're hopeful that the long-legged red-haired beauty will survive the transition from runway to screen long term. Lily's latest venture is The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - here's a first look at Lily in the film.

Audrey Tautou as Coco's New Muse

Amelie actress Audrey Tautou has been cast as the infamous Chanel creator Coco Chanel. The film depicts Coco's early life as she adapted the fashion of her generation and into her own. The resemblance between Coco and Audrey is quite uncanny and she was cleverly cast as the famous designer who paved the way we look at fashion today. Coco's mannish take on the ladies suit can be seen in oversized boy blazers and wide legged trousers, and the quilted Chanel handbags that have been repeated and updated will never go out of style.

To maximise the franchise and promote the brand, Audrey Tautou also stars in the New Chanel No.5 Ad where she joins the fairytale world that Karl Lagerfeld continues for the brand in Coco's memory today.

Art Melbourne 09: affordable & collectable art

As if we ever need an excuse to visit Melbourne's amazing Royal Exhibition Building, this weekend begins Art Melbourne 09 - the city's affordable art fair.

Art Melbourne 09 will exhibit hundreds of artworks by artists both well known and emerging; and with limited edition Banksy artworks up for grabs, there's more reason than ever to have some cash handy when you visit the fair this weekend.

Graffiti art by Banksy

J Alexander aka 'Miss J' VIP guest at LMFF

L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF) have announced their VIP guest for this year: model, television personality and runway coach J. Alexander.

You may know him better as "Miss J" from his role on America's Next Top Model.

Alexander's career started when he modelled on the runway for Jean Paul Gaultier in New York City, and since then he has evolved into an in-demand casting agent and runway coach.

This will be J. Alexander's first trip to Melbourne.

Rachel Getting Married - Movie Pass Giveaway

Anne Hathaway's star continues to rise with an abundance of critical acclaim surrounding her latest film, Rachel Getting Married.

When Kym (Hathaway) returns to the Buchman family home for the wedding of her sister Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt), she brings a long history of personal crisis, family conflict and tragedy along with her.

The wedding couple's abundant party of friends and relations have gathered for a joyful weekend of feasting, music and love, but Kym - with her biting one-liners and flair for bombshell drama - is a catalyst for long-simmering tensions in the family dynamic.

Filled with the rich and eclectic characters that remain a hallmark of Jonathan Demme's films, Rachel Getting Married paints a heartfelt, perceptive and sometimes hilarious family portrait. Rachel Getting Married hits cinemas in Australia on February 12.

We have 20 double-passes to Rachel Getting Married to give away. The competition closes soon, but if you haven't already entered, keep an eye on the Fashionising.com newsletter for details on how to win.

Visit http://www.rachelgettingmarried.com.au for more information or to watch the trailer... And don't forget to subscribe to Fashionising.com's newsletter for notification of future competitions and giveaways.

5cm Menswear Store To Open in Melbourne

Some of you local Melbournians may have spotted the freshly postered scaffolding at Melbourne Central and Chapel St hailing the opening of 5 cm. The brand is one of Hong Kong's fashion powerhouses, which somehow has managed to trickle its way down the Pacific Rim all the way Down Under.

Giveaway: The Art of Social War, by Jodi Wing

You may be familiar with the principles in Sun Tzu's famous book, The Art of War. But what about translating those principles into modern social life?

Soon to be made into a major motion picture, The Art of Social War is the story of 35-year old Stacey Knight, a die-hard New York woman who is forced to move to LA; and who cleverly uses Sun Tzu's military principles to navigate the rough seas of Hollywood's high society.

The Art of Social War, Jodi Wing's debut novel, is scheduled to hit the shelves tomorrow.

This is one book I'm certainly looking forward to. If you're keen to get your hands on a copy, we have a few to give away in our upcoming newsletter. Subscribe now to find out the details of how to win!

Giveaway: Bang Gang Deejays Prizepack

The good ship Bang Gang is set to sail the seven seas and traverse endless dimensions of dance all over again, with their forthcoming release D Is For Disco, E Is For Dancing.

Sailing the heaving oceans of fidget house, plumbing the depths of deep, late night techno, floating the breezy bays of Baltimore club and frolicking gayly in the shorebreak of disco, D Is For Disco, E Is For Dancing is the most thrillingly forward thinking and downright jacking mix The Bang Gang Deejays are yet to piece together.

We have a Bang Gang Deejay's prizepack to giveaway to one lucky reader! As well as the latest Bang Gang CD, the pack also includes a shirt, sweat towel, A4 stickers set, and single stickers. Read on to find out how to enter.