Valentino Retrospective...Fabulous!

I was so excited to go to the Valentino Retrospective in Brisbane recently.. over one hundred dresses on display from one of my favourite designers and the chance to see them up close was just amazing! What I loved most was seeing all the details up close like beading, ruffles and work that could only be done by hand. You just can't see the real beauty of these things in a picture, I was dyeing to have a look at the inside of those dresses to see the construction, while I love design I also love the construction side of fashion just as much. What I also enjoyed was seeing pieces that were from 1960's collections that are just as relevant and fashionable today as well as some great history there with Jacqui O's wedding ensemble, complete with a ladder in the stockings.

Whilst I didn't get to take any pictures at the exhibition as I forgot to pack my camera for the trip to Brisbane and I'm not sure that photos were allowed in there anyway, I did buy the book on the way out which shows all of the garments from the collection, so here's just a few of my favourites...

Desert Rose Spring 2010

 

 

 

 

The Spring 2010 collection 'Desert Rose' is now online! The name of the collection 'Desert Rose' has formed the basis for inspiration  mainly through the images that those two words conjure in my mind; neutral, sandy colours, abstract roses, exotic prints and textiles, people in far away places, luxurious draped fabric. The detailing in some pieces is also inspired by the actual Desert Rose: a beautiful rock formation found in the desert that looks like rose petals.

The collection is all about Spring races dresses with feminine details and prints, formal dresses in draped silk jersey, party dresses in block coloured silk, and oversized rosette fascinators to finish off the outfit. My favourite piece is the first dress here, the Cascade silk jersey gown, a lustrous silk blend jersey pleated and draped into a luxurious, soft sculptural silhouette and adorned with rosettes on the straps. I just can't wait for an occasion to wear this one!

View the full collection in the online boutique here

Dreaming of Summer...

I'm getting ready to put the new Spring collection online within the next couple of weeks and I can't wait! The start of a new season is always very exciting for me, it brings something fresh to look at and work with. I'm particularly looking forward to Spring though as it brings the prospect of warmer weather, the Spring Racing carnival and the end to heavy Winter fashion.

This image just makes me long for a Summer holiday in a far away place that only requires a bikini, cotton dress, sandals and a big floppy hat.

image: Harpers Bazaar 1952 by Louise Dahl-Wolfe

Loving Christian Dior Resort 2011

I was quite delighted when I saw the pics from the Christian Dior Resort 2011 show. Inspired by the 1960's & French New Wave it's full of so many things i love about fashion. Nipped waists, girlie block colours, ruffle details and lace. These are just a few of my favourites, the shades of pink are just gorgeous, a colour I love but wear quite rarely lately.

Just another one for a bit of fun :)

Another one of my faves from Gil Elvgren, love it!

My next collection is well underway and I can't wait to share some images of it in progress shortly.

Back to it!

Wow I just realised it's nearly been a month since my last post - that month feels like only a week. As usual it's super busy around here, among everything I've been planning my next collection. I watched The Notebook around the time I began the collection and was inspired by the gorgeous 1940's fashion in the movie (that was only a couple of weeks ago and the first time I have ever seen the movie, I'm a little behind on that one haha) . I've done a bit more research into the era which is one that I had never really explored much before and was surprised at how much of it really translates to today. Particularly the outfit in the below Revlon ad, this is not the sort of thing I would have associated with 1940's fashion and I just think it looks so classic yet like our modern version of classic. I still haven't completely decided on the theme of the collection, I'm so indecisive so it could completely change!

Vintage luggage

I've had a slight obsession with Vintage luggage lately, I think it started with looking for the perfect piece to use in a photoshoot (never found). I've come across many inspirational images on the internet of luggage being used creatively as home decor but I actually want it to use as functional luggage. So I don't think the true vintage kind would be suitable to stand up to whatever happens to our checked luggage, I'm seeking something brand new that looks vintage, I've found a few but nothing that strikes the perfect balance between modern does vintage. I shall keep hunting...

Hair and make up

I just loved the hair and make up from the Winter shoot so much I thought I'd share a couple of closeups. Hope everyone had a lovely weekend :) Oh also everything is online now, I won't swamp you here with ALL the pics from the collection so check them out here

New Winter pieces

Yesterday I did the photoshoot for my Winter collection and the day went unbelievably well :) My model for the day Olivia Arezzolo was just stunning and it didn't take long at all to get many perfect shots for each look, we finished two hours early which has never happened for me before! I also had a wonderful make-up artist / hairstylist Ash Macdonald who did an amazing job with the sixties inspired hair and makeup based off my rather vague description, I just love the heavy eye makeup with super thick false lashes. I can't wait to try this look on myself next time I have an occasion.

There's quite a few more looks to come and everything will be on sale on the website http://www.kristahochwallner.com.au/ within the next couple of days.

Bubble 1963

It's no secret that Vintage fashion photography is one of my favorite things, my list of favorites is growing quickly! I've only recently come across the brilliant work of photographer Melvin Sokolsky, these images are from the 'Bubble' series he did for Harpers Bazaar in 1963, there's 25 in the series and these are just a few of my favorites, I just love everything about them, the clothes, the beautiful models and hairstyles, the street settings, it's all just gorgeous!

Red, bows, organza and Hayley Mills

Keeping it short and sweet today, a few images I have saved under 'red' in my favorites.

I so want shoes like these with the bows around the ankles, I think they might have been quite popular a couple of years ago, anyone know where I can get some now? mynewshoes by kuhkay on deviantart.com

Cherry skirt and Scarlet top from my 'ROUGE' collection (available online now)

Love the hat, love the car, love the model and overall composition of the image, source unknown

Gorgeous red organza ruffles and bow, looks so fun LOVE! source unknown

Hayley Mills all grown up - the only way I remember Hayley Mills is in Pollyanna, one of my favorite movies as a child, I always remember the scene with all the crystals strung up shining in the sun and making the pretty reflection on the wall, anyone else remember that?

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, I'm looking forward to it as it's supposed to be sunny and fairly warm here : ) Tomorrow I'll be finalising some pieces and set for the next photoshoot and Sunday going to a beauty fair with a friend who's studying beauty therapy, should be a day of pure girliness!

Lace booties and fingerless gloves

So I haven't posted in a while, I took a bit of an extended break over Easter to go back home to Brisbane to see the family and generally just relax and have a break from work. While up there I had the time to do a fair bit of shopping, it's quite strange as Melbourne is my closest city but I tend to do most of my shopping in Brisbane as I never really have the time when I'm in my usual routine. I don't shop for clothes as I make nearly all of them so I was looking for shoes, boots and winter accessories. Here are my favorite things I bought...

*Lace peeptoe booties from Zu - when I bought these I was thinking they would be perfect for Spring Racing but I also love them with tights for Winter.
*Grey angora fingerless gloves with bows at the wrists - absolute bargain from Forever New and they are soooo soft and cosy.
*Grey tights from Myer - slightly shiny and another addition to my growing collection of tights for this Autumn/Winter, so far I have a few pairs of white, cream and grey but I want to add some red/burugundy, in the past I've only worn black tights but that is not happening this Winter.

Ruffles

I just adore ruffles and particularly in the extreme amount, but I think there was a bit of a ruffle overload a while back and I went off them a little, this picutre has certainly rekindled my love of the girly frou frou-ness of ruffles. Oh how I would love a coat? like this to dress up in for Winter, if only I had the time to make one, but tiered ruffles take soooo much time to cut and sew.

Elio Berhanyer dress, image by Sharok Hatami 1965

New Autumn pieces...finally!

I finally got the shoot for the Autumn collection done after two cancellations, I'm fnalising all the images over the next couple of days...so more to come soon!

Sale time!

Sales don't happen all that often around here, but it's time for the end of season sale, many pieces from the Spring/Summer 09/10 collection 'Flying High' are on sale in the boutique at http://www.kristahochwallner.com.au/ at up to 50% off.  

and just a bit of fun...

These cheesy pin-up style pictures always brighten my day, I just love them!

image by William Medcalf

All dressed up and nowhere to go...

Well that's what it kind on feels like with my Autumn/Winter collection at the moment. It's all done and ready for the photoshoot but it's just not happening! Photoshoot day is my favorite but this one has been delayed a couple of times now due to un-reliable people, so frustrating. The last couple I did had no problems and went as planned with some wonderful people to work with, perhaps I was just lucky on those. Fingers crossed the shoot will be complete by the end of this week, meanwhile here's some of the garments on the rack just waiting to come to life. Oh also a couple of weeks ago I posted about my quest to find vintage inspired hats for the photoshoot, well I ended up making a couple instead and they will be for sale as part of the collection, I'm so excited about this new addition and can't wait to share!

Autumn & ankle boots

First day of Autumn today and it sure felt like it this morning!

I'm always captivated by images of a tree lined road in Autumn, there's something about the beautiful colored leaves and touching branches framing the road that captivate me. I would just love to live on a road like this and get to travel down it everyday, it's like a beautiful path home in a fairytale......

And the perfect shoes to walk that road....I'm looking for some ankle boots for this Autumn/Winter, these are a few styles that I like but now need to find in Australia within my budget!

Red boots: Christian Louboutin from barneys.com

Pink boots: Joie from shopbop.com

Ivory boots: Boutique 9 from endless.com

Busy busy....

If only work was as carefree as this ad from the 1960's makes it look....I've been so busy working on the business side of the business (as opposed the more fun creating fashion side) and I feel very un-inspired  hence why posts have been few and far between. Deadline for what I'm working on is this Thursday so after that I will be back to more balance between the two : )

A great fashion photographer

As I try to learn more about photography myself I have been inspired by the work of many brilliant fashion photographers, at the top of my list at the moment for modern day photographers is Nicoline Patricia Malina. Based in Indonesia Nicoline has worked for some top magazines and brands in The Netherlands, China & Indonesia including Elle and Harpers Bazaar among many and received Elles Young Photographer of the Year award in 2009, some great achievements in only 5 years. I love her whole portfolio from the soft fairytale dream of the first couple of images here to the slightly sultry beauty of the last few, Nicolines work is so diverse, for more see http://www.nicolinepatricia.com/. I'd love to hear who your favorite modern day fashion photographers are too : )