The best of the Australian Runways in 2016

Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival 

& Mercede-Benz Fashion Week

Photos Lucas Dawson 

Spring Summer in Australia isn't complete without Camilla. This year on both of these runways we saw Camilla signature kaftans and swimwear.

In 2016 Steve May brings a little boho to the shift dress and kaftan.

David Jones parade had a youthful sexy look. Wrap dresses, sheer fabrics and cutouts are on trend.

As always J'Aton delivered their usual class and sophistication with lace and embellishing.  

Alice McCall never disappoints and in 2016 she delivered on trend embellishments and patterns on black with lace and sheer fabrics.

Bec and Bridge's Collection was filled with gorgeous neutrals and classic cuts.

Aurelio Castarellio was as on trend with the nude look. These neutrals are simple with little pops of embellishing.

Dion Lee again hit the neutrals trend on the button with these looks, with fringing, tassels and sheer fabrics.

Keepsake's designs in blush and whites with sheer and simple cuts are something we all need in our Spring wardrobe.

Thurley's collection was full of bold laces and dramatic heavy embellishing that will be going on your Spring bucket list! 

Swimwear for 2016 came in all shapes and sizes from the previous Camilla range to Billabong's great rash vest options. Perfect for covering up in the harsh Aussie sun.

Billabong from the VAMFF (Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival 

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 

The most on trend and wearable pieces from the runways at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

These will inspire your Spring Summer Wardrobe. 

Leading on from the VAMFF we'll start with the swimwear and resort wear.

Bondi Bather bold prints and sheers are perfect for Summer 16!

Cynthia Rowley hit it out of the park with these 3 swimwear options.

If geometric patterns are more your thing. These rash vest swimsuits are a must have.

Resort looks were abundant at the MBFW.

Once again Camilla wowed audiences with their tropical tribal look. 

Ginger and Smart combined class with fun with these looks. 

The kaftan look by Ginger and Smart.

Cynthia added her own colourful boho look to the mix.

Akira delivered romantic whimsical kaftans with botanical prints.

AJE combined wearability with gorgeous sheers.

Karla Spetic gave us some soft lavender hues. 

Bec and Bridge combines the texture of the camel tones with the neutral and flesh tones so much on trend.

Bec and Bridge also gave us some completely original trends for this year! 

Some of the most wearable trends from Bec and Bridge are the one shoulder, shoulder cutouts and sheer soft fabrics in once again the neutral tones. 

By Johnny pushed the design and cut principals with these gorgeous creations. 

Femininity was a theme you couldn't ignore by CMeo Collection 

Daniel Avakian

Dixon Lee feminine neutrals.

We are Kindred's collection was whimsical and feminine. 

For a more bold look Steve Kahlil showed us how to do glam.

2016 Australian Runways bought to you by Lily Online Magazine. 

Photography by official photographer Lucas Dawson. 

Spring 2016 Fashion Trends for Australia

If like me you're counting down the days to Spring so we can enjoy the warmth in the air and the glorious sunshine surrounded by natures blooms.  It also mean for most Melbournians ( we wear a lot of black) in particular looking at our wardrobes and deciding how to update it to create a fresh Spring feel.

Here's 7 of my favourite trends you can easily adopt this Spring to give you the quintessential Spring 16 look without having to throw out your current wardrobe.

1. The White Shirt

The great thing about a classic white shirt is that you can choose a cut, fit and fabric that suits your personal style while looking on trend. Tips to remember, to get the 2016 Spring look, try shirts with lace inlays, wrap fronts, cutouts in the shoulders and sheer fabrics. 

2. The wrap skirt

The wrap skirt would have to be my favourite Spring 2016 trend. Wrap skirts flatter many different shapes and it's a matter of choosing a length that suits you. You may have never considered it before but even wrap skirts can give a shape like a A line skirt, a pencil skirt or a mini. So try a wrap skirt that has a shape that you already know suits you. The best thing is these skirts look fabulous with the above mentioned white shirts. For me this is the absolute 2016 Spring Look MUST HAVE!

3. A bit of Boho

My wardrobe is never complete without a bit of Boho. How can you get the Spring 16 Boho look? Try maxi dresses with lace inlays and gathering. Maybe a little ruffle or two. Don't forget feathers and beads in your jewellery or motifs and you have an instant Boho edge to you look. Keep it subtle and whimsical not like a hippy, more like a Goddess! 

4. Tropic Floral and Foliage

You might have thought we saw the end of this trend in Summer 2015, however in Spring and Summer 16 this trend takes on a lot more colour. Popping bright colours of nature will put you instantly in a good mood. The great part is you can simply add a skirt, top or even bag to update your current wardrobe to incorporate this look. 

5. Lovely lace

Spring evokes a truely feminine image in my mind. What's more feminine than lace. Lace from top to toe is a beautiful Spring 16 trend that will be an investment piece. If you choose well you will be wearing your lace in different ways for years to come. So don't be afraid to splurge. If you your budget doesn't have a splurge bank account you will find lots of lace options in stores like Boohoo, Oasap, Kmart, Target, Tempt and many more brands that have affordable pieces. 

6. Shoulder cut outs

I love this look because I have small shoulders, even  when I'm religiously doing my weights.  Any extra emphasis on my shoulders through my selection of clothes balances out my body shape. Like most women I have quite solid hips, so the peek a boo shoulder tops create a broadening of the shoulders and a little sexy skin showing doesn't hurt either. It's also great for women who are self conscience of their arms but want a more Spring 16 look with a bit if skin showing. Keep to the top shapes that suit you for example wrap tops, racer back style, of flowy maxi dresses. A sneaky option is to survey your wardrobe for dresses and tops you simply are bored of. Maybe they could be converted by cutting the shoulders out. Some fabrics can be cut without requiring stitching, however if they do take it to your local alteration shop and ask them to do it, or do what I do and break out the sewing machine and get sewing! 

7. Feminine florals

Florals are always a signature look for Spring, however this Spring we'll be looking for truly breathtaking fairytale florals. Remember those incredibly feminine peony and rose fabrics Grandma had? Now let's bring them into crisp focus with a fresh 2016 look. Look for prints, appliqué and lace tops, dresses and skirts, just add one or two pieces to your wardrobe and you'll feel like a princess! You can also hit the second hand store. Focus on looking for fabrics and consider how it could be repurposed into a fresh Spring 16 look. Maybe into a purse, a scarf or a belt. Have fun with this look, I know I will.

Don't forget, fashion trends are about enjoying fashion not being a slave to it!! 

Happy Spring 2016, 

Priscilla x

Car lovers- Sparkle and shine your wheels chemical free!

So you might think what's a shiny car got to do with chemical free living? Well like all aspects of our lives it's another area we can reduce our impact on the earth while maintaining our stylish lifestyle. 

I was raised in a car loving household, my grandfather was a huge car ethusiast, a collector of Cadillacs and worked in the car industry most of his life; the GM of Good Year and involved with Olympic Dunlop and Beaurepairs meant my childhood was filled with gorgeous cars, car racing and funny stories of Mr Beaurepairs and how my father worked and drove for him, often getting into trouble as most car enthusiasts do from time to time. My mother raced Go-carts built by my grandfather an obsessive auto engineer and my fathers enthusiasm for Formula 1, V8 Super Cars and rally car racing was unparalleled. I just thought all girls watched the car racing with their dads! 

Needless to say from the day I could hold a sponge and hose I was taught the therapeutic satisfaction of washing, polishing and waxing a car.... Immaculate cars is a must in my family.  Over the years I've also learnt to appreciate like most things if you take care of them, they'll last a lifetime. Which is probably why I've had to upgrade my car (to a gorgeous shiny black Subaru Outback with cream leather interior) recently purely to ensure I have a car with the latest safety features more than anything else. In fact my previous car is still in such good nick after 15 years I've decided to keep it. 

So where am I going with all this? ... Like most women (and men) I like shiny things... So keeping my car nice has just as much importance as keeping my home nice. Let's face it we spend so much time in our cars it's like a lounge suite on wheels. 

So how do you keep your cars looking gorgeous whilst  adhering to the same ethical philosophies you implement at home to minimise chemical use and choose eco friendly options?  It's all about the quality of the cloths, how they are manufactured and being able to use them with just water! 

About 12 months ago I discovered the Norwex range and I'm officially addicted! 

Keeping it Clean

I use the two-sided Car Wash Mitt which has nubby chenille micro fibre on one side and sponge layer micro fibre on the other to collect dirt and debris. It washes out easily with just a quick rinse. The thick, plush fibres hold dirt and grime away from your car’s surface to reduce scratching. (I still have the words "Don't scratch the duco" ringing in my ears from childhood). On this Car Wash mitt the spaces in the  fibres created by the splitting process in manufacturing allow the mitt to lift away maximum dirt and grime. It's very absorbent, so you can clean your entire car using just one bucket of water. Rinse clean with just water.... I bet you've never tried cleaning your car with just water, no cleaners! 

Did you know the  water droplets when your car is left to dry can collect dirt at their base and leave behind ugly streaks on the newly cleaned surface, it’s important to dry your car quickly after washing it. That's where the car cloth comes in. 

The Car Cloth gets your car sparkling clean with only water, the extremely fine fibres are tightly woven, which helps prevent the cloth from holding dirt that may scratch your vehicle. Plus it quickly dries and polishes your entire car, including windows, mirrors, glass, chrome and other smooth or shiny surfaces like the interior trim and dash. So why use it? 

1. Save money and protect the environment by eliminating the need for chemicals or paper towels.

2. No more streaks.

3. Car stays shiny and repels dust and dirt longer.

4. Tightly woven fibres helps prevent paint from scratching.

5. Eliminates residual “chemical muck” left behind

6. Used dry, it creates static electricity that lifts the smallest particles of dust and dirt up into the cloth and prevents them from resettling back onto surfaces.

7. Dries quickly so it’s ready to use again in no time.

So how do you use it? 

1. Use the Car Cloth for drying and polishing after normal washing with the Car Wash Mitt.

2. Dry surfaces quickly with Car Cloth before water evaporates. Preferably wash your car out of direct sunlight or in the cool of the day.

3. Use slightly damp on car windows, mirrors, chrome and other smooth surfaces.

Looking after your mitt and cloths: Slightly dirty micro fibre can be washed with Norwex Dishwashing Liquid under warm running water and used again before laundering. Rinse thoroughly after washing and air or machine dry. Cloths that have been used heavily should be laundered using Norwex Ultra Power PlusTM, which contains no  fillers, after each use.  

Interior, window trims and lights. 

 I often use my microfibre Enviro cloths around the window trims to soak up the excess water then polish the windows and trims with the Car Cloth or the Window cloth. 

If like me you have grubby kids, keeping the interior of your car fresh and new looking is usually hard work. I can't live without the Norwex EnviroCloth to clean the interior of my car. It leaves the surfaces almost dry and totally streak free, with just water, so the days of spray window cleaners and car interior cleaners are gone and the result is far better anyway. 

So how does it work? The Norwex antibacterial micro fibre EnviroCloth removes dust, dirt and grease from all washable surfaces using only water– no chemicals! Norwex micro fibre has the ability to remove up to 99 % of bacteria from a surface when following the proper care and use instructions.  Plus it removes residual “chemical muck” left behind by typical cotton cloths and harsh cleaning products. It picks up dust particles and traps them in the cloth until you rinse it out. Then BacLockTM* in the cloth (micro silver antibacterial agent)  works by  self-purifying and inhibiting bacterial odours, mould and mildew growth within the cloth. At  1/200 th the size of a human hair, Norwex micro fibre is one of the most innovative products in the cleaning industry today. One of my favourite options is that if you're  wanting to give your car a really quick freshen up it can  be used dry for dusting, or wet for general cleaning and heavily soiled areas.

My new car has lots of shiny surfaces... That's one if reasons I bought it if course, prior to using these natural cleaning clothes I would have been put off a car that needed so many shiny surfaces maintained but quite honestly one of the reasons I chose this car was because I knew I'd have no problem keeping everything clean and shiny using the Enviocloth and the Window cloth. The touch screen displays get little finger prints and the back door handles and window buttons are very shiny so little sticky fingers appear out of nowhere. Inside the doors often get dusty and scuffed so give them a wipe over with the EnviroCloth. That's it, just water! 

This is where the Window cloth is amazing! The Window cloth also contains the BacLocTM antibacterial agent. I use these cloths on every shiny surface in my car and home and they leave absolutely no streaks.

However one of the most important reasons for using these water only cloths.... Did you know that butyl  cellosolve is commonly found in glass cleaners. Readily absorbed through the skin, overexposure can irritate mucous membranes and may cause liver and kidney damage.(www.osha.gov/dts/sltc/methods/ organic/org083/org083.html). In addition according  to the Environmental Working Group, there is strong evidence that ammonia is a human immune and respiratory toxicant or allergen. (www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/ 700353/AMMONIA).

I was so impressed with the Norwex ethics and eco friendly philosophy that they are available via our website! You can order them online by following the links below. Happy polishing!!!

 

August Special Click HERE

Go to store for Car Wash Mitt here

Go to store for Car Cloth here

Go to store for Enviro Cloth here

 

Go to store for Window Cloth here

Information provided by Priscilla Green - Independent Norwex Consultant