Taste Of Perth

Billabong stripe tee, vintage blazer, Dr. Denim jeans, L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani sneakers.

Over the weekend Mario and I went along to the first 'Taste of Perth' festival. We were kindly given tickets, so went along as punters. The festival, held along the Perth foreshore at Langley Park, showcased some of the top chefs and restaurants serving up 'taste' sized dishes. Mario and I sampled dishes and drinks from Bib & Tucker, El Publico, Greenhouse, The Classroom, Print Hall and more and attended talks such as a rum class with the charismatic owner of Bar Lafayette. We budgeted spending $45 each and shared our serves, each were really well prepared and delicious. Bib & Tucker was one of the only places we had yet to actually dine at and now I want to go even more. 

Although the portion sizes were small (like smaller than tapas small), it was an excellent opportunity to try out new places and enjoy a bit of people watching. The event was well executed, and a welcome inclusion to the Perth foodie calendar. (Here it comes... an Adelaide comparison... I do this all the time...) I am used to attending a lot of food festivals back in Adelaide, which are very popular. I would say that with a little better public awareness the Taste of Perth festival will grow, and perhaps attract a stronger attendance. I think the major things which felt lacking were a national or international chef guest, something which noticeably draws in a crowd (think the gazillions of people who enjoy reality cooking shows) and perhaps a food option with a bigger portion size. I left satisfied but ultimately hungry a couple of hours later, and can imagine that to offset smaller dishes an option for something a little more filling would have been popular. The price of entry also seemed very Perth - with tickets over $30 (double the price of most Eastern states food festivals, but reflective of the International Taste Festival prices), and the average spend over $40 for food and drinks, it could add up to a costly experience quickly. 

A little note on my outfit... again teaming jeans and sneakers, and that blazer- told you I wear it a lot. Wandering around on grass equals sneakers, and this stripe tee is one of my favourite 'surf brand' cheap finds from SurfStitch. Find a link to them below, I have nothing but love for their range, prices and super speedy delivery. 

xx Jenelle

Photos by Mario Recchia and myself

Patricia Field Style and the City

Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte all had a not-so-secret friend who turned them from women speaking directly into the camera about their dating fiascoes (a rookie season one mistake) into style icons adored the world over. It has been years since the series ended and the last of the films graced the silver screen (breaking box office records) but women all over the world can still not get enough. With this in mind "Style and the City", an exhibition of beautiful gowns and outfits worn by these fictional but very real style icons has been cleverly curated by legendary costume designer Patricia Field and brought to Perth. Launching on Friday morning, the free exhibition will run until May 1st at enex100 and inside Myer at Forrest Chase.

At the launch Patricia shared stories from the set- how she met the actors and how they became family, posed for photos, met and chatted with some 100 women and men all obvious fans of her amazing work. 

Not only is Patricia Field the Emmy Award winning costume designer behind Sex and The City, but Oscar nominated designer behind films like The Devil Wears Prada, Confessions of a Shopaholic, and television series' Ugly Betty, Spin City, Cashmere Mafia, Hope and Faith, Six Degrees and Kath and Kim. Her boutique, which she opened in Greenwich Village in 1966 has been attracting fashion forward locals, internationals and celebrities for fifty years. Named in Time Magazines '100 Most Influential Fashion Icons of All Time', Field is a down to earth and fascinating woman. Her stories brought to life the experiences on set while demonstrating her design process, character analysis and relationship with cast members. 

Costumes from both the HBO television series and both of the Sex and the City films are on display, from the infamous Vivienne Westwood wedding gown (complete with bird!), Zac Posen wedding party gowns (the black worn by Charlotte was Field's pick for Sarah-Jessica Parker to wear in white but Parker chose the Westwood), the Versace ruffled gown Carrie was stood up in by Alexander Petrovsky during that last episode in Paris and a whole lot more. By a whole lot more, I am talking the Carrie necklace, the blue Manolo Blahnick's, that white dress with the gigantic orchid corsage, the Eiffel Tower bag etc etc etc… Patricia Field scoured dresses from across the globe to bring to Perth, just for us. Zac Posen dug into his New Jersey archives for the wedding party dresses, designers and collectors around the world were called, and the results are a stunning collection of 24 colourful, iconic gowns and costume pieces that you just have to see. 

xx Jenelle 

Urban Couture Launch 2014

Bruug Tweed Olsen Top (now only $35!), Ellery Mavericks Pleated Skirt, Witchery Maddie Boots

This week marked the launch of Urban Couture 2014, part of the Joondalup Festival supporting and showcasing local fashion creatives. Launching with an exhibition opening from illustrator Kelly Mekel, at the Blend(er) Gallery (until March 30) on Thursday, the festival continues with an impressive calendar of fashion events. Engaging the stunning Australian Vogue cover model Samantha Harris as Urban Couture ambassador and walking the Sorrento Beach Swimwear runway, is an impressive koo. Over the coming weeks I will bring more from Urban Couture, an event I was sad to miss last year, and have heard nothing but excellent feedback about. For the full program click on here.

With bright splatters of bold colour, Kelly Mekel illustrates models in featured Urban Couture designers and other international favourites. The exhibition, curiously entitled Wanderlust, taps into Mekel's clear love of fashion, but does not clearly express an overwhelming inspiration for travel or adventure as its namesake suggests. Bleeding watercolour and sharp gel pen trace local models who were also featured on Thursday night in an elegant urban runway presentation. 

Mekel's pieces as pictured are: Ellie in Green, Moschino, Candice.

It has been a while between events here on the blog, I actually can't remember the last one I wrote about- it certainly wasn't this year. At times I just don't feel like going, but when I get to catch up with some lovely faces, it makes it worth the rsvp. Pictured here along with Mekel's illustrations, and runway models are Revolution the Label Designer Ben Conroy, Stylist Mikey Walton and bloggers Bonnie of Bonnie Friday and Laura of Ethereal Reality.

xx Jenelle

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Making of Noodle Palace for Fringe World Perth

This week I am designing and installing one of the Perth Fringe Festival venues. That has pretty well taken over the week (as I still work my office job as well) so I haven't had time to shoot anything, or hit the 'publish' button on any of the pre-written blog posts I have sitting in my draft folder. In the interests of sharing some of my work, and the behind the scenes game, which actually started this blog in the first place here are a few (average quality) sneaky phone snaps of the venue so far. 

It is in the old Piccadilly Cinema in the heart of Perth, between the two malls (man, there are some CRAZY folk wandering around the city- bored and eager to wander into old unused buildings!). The cinema is a heritage listed Art Deco building, it is really cool, dilapidated, dodgy and gorgeous all at once. Working in there alone- or walking in with the light of my phone before switching on the lights is pretty fucking scary (excuse the language, but, we literally have found a garbage bag leaking what looks like blood). 

We are converting it into Noodle Palace, a three-stage performance space and bar, inspired by all things kitschy oriental. I took the theme, spliced in a bit of oriental art deco influence and ran with it. We managed to find some pretty cool stuff and I think so far it is looking pretty shit hot, if I do say so myself. Take it with a grain of salt, come see a show, and have a bit of fun. The venue, Noodle Palace opens up on Wednesday, and features a bunch of really cool comedy, cabaret and general Fringe acts. The info is up on the site here. 

Pictured:

 Me donning a new ASOS t-shirt much to my relief cause I had made a mess of the shirt I had worn all day. 

One of the cool Deco mirrors- modified by yours truly,

The amazing work of graphic designer (and my man) Mario Recchia

Our little elephant ready with programs in the entryway. 

xx Jenelle

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Ellery Sample Sale Perth

The Ellery Sample sale is on now at the Claremont Quarter pop-up shop. Open for one week only, there are items starting from as little as $30, as well as rare samples, and coveted pieces from recent seasons. There are beautiful evening gowns, cocktail dresses, blazers, overcoats and even shoes. 

Mikey, Alister and myself checked out the goods last night, and grabbed a bargain. 

There are a good range of sizes available, but I think you will need to get in quick. 

176-23 St Quentins Avenue, Claremont (where Zara Bryson was, next to Father). 

Pictured below is a sneak peak of my next outfit post… 

xx Jenelle

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Constellations

As a part of the Perth Fashion Festival Cultural Program, Constellations, held last week in Leederville celebrated local designers and boutiques with live mannequins and a runway show. 

Models amused onlookers posing in shop windows, some easily being mistaken for mannequins, from boutiques Vagra Girl, Atlas Divine, Harry & Gretle, Urban Depot, Blink 138, Hunter Store and Un1son Apparel. 

On the runway local designers including Nicole Marrington, Ariana Davis, Scott & Sims, On A Whim, Little Dove, Katherine Young, SeeWolf, and more shared a huge variety of design aesthetics, applications and talent. 

With the official PFF program kicking off this evening, it is a busy week ahead. Last year I attended most shows, this time I am breaking it up a little, but there will still be plenty of content. 

I also have a really exciting blogger project to share with you beginning next week...

xx Jenelle

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