Announcing this year’s theme for STYLEAID, the much anticipated annual WA fashion charity event, ‘tribe’.

‘tribe’ will recognise and celebrate the communities of volunteers that come together to create this night of glamour and celebration to be held at the Burswood Grand Ballroom on Friday 13 July 2010.

STYLEAID was originally conceived in 1997, primarily to raise the much needed funds to assist in the areas of education, prevention, care and support for the WA Aids Council. In its 13th year the event will yet again raise the bar in presenting the best in Western Australian designer fashion by showcasing the top WA designer collections including Aurelio Costarella, Antipodium, Timothy Godbold RTW, Flannel and United Constructions.

The Absolut Creative Award winner – designer, Daniella Caputi will present her debut collection for the runway and 10 of our finest fashion students will showcase their avante garde pieces designed for ‘tribe’ in an exciting finale for the evening.

Credits:
Photographer – Penny Lane
Creative Director – Aly May

Purple tribe
Stylist: Eddie Dos Santos @ Viviens Creative
Model; Greta @ Chadwicks
Makeup: Bruce Lim @ MAC
Hair: Jody Fiannaca
Bather bottoms; Black Box
Shoes: Hunter Store, Leederville
Gloves: Diamond Aps, Fremantle

Green tribe
Stylist; Aly May
Model; Sarah @ Viviens
Makeup; Bruce Lim @ MAC
Hair; Sue Morgan @ Be Ba Beau assisted by Blake
Bather Bottoms; Black Box
Knitting; Thanks to Anne Farren
Shoes; Stylist own coloured with Dancing Torso

Brown tribe
Stylist: Kiara Thomson
Model; Melissa @ Scene models
Makeup; Erin Butcher @ MAC
Hair: Sarah Williamson – Lime Fusio
Bather Bottoms: Black Box
Boots; Zomp

Orange tribe
Stylist; Teagan Sewell
Model; Steffanie @ Viviens
Makeup; Carol Mackie @ MAC
Hair; Marie @ Head Studio
Bather Bottoms; Black Box
Shoes; Stylist own coloured by Dancing Torso

Pink tribe
Stylist; Chelsey Wayte
Model’ Jessi @ Scene models
Makeup; Hendra Widjaja
Hair; Jean @ House of Ernest
Body Illustration; Tane Andrews
Corset & Cuffs; Alister Yiap
Shoes ; Zomp

Thanks to Chris Huzzard for studio space
And Daria for all her help on the day.

This is a snippet from the winter look book 2010 from the master Aurelio Costarella. If you have yet to enjoy his artistry, get aquatinted.  Women sigh and men swoon – really.

Aurelio costarella

Tell us the story of Emerald Valley.

The lush hills of the Hinterland are truly the most beautiful areas of Byron Shire. Much focus has been put into the beach side living but I sought out the forests and the river. I wanted to have a very soft feminine property so that I could build a home to have a belated family. The beaches are all close by but I can return to the privacy and beauty of the hills.

I had become disillusioned with the ability of the people of the world to make any correct decisions for the good of the earth. I decided that after all my years of struggle it was pointless and that I would build a sustainable sanctuary. My vision was to build a truly beautiful, fragrant, sensuous, inspiring home that was sustainable and had abundant water and fresh fruit and vegetables. A home for me to bring a romantic partner in the future and start a family. A place that I could entertain friends and business associates and allow them to see how you can live in luxury but in harmony with the earth.

With your field of expertise in “green” Business, What were the must have criteria in the house and garden for you in the design?

It was essential that the house ran on 100% green energy and had solar hot water. I used beautiful recycled timbers wherever possible to avoid forest destruction. The swimming pool is oxygenated spring water so that when drained or overflows it does not pollute the environment. The majority of paints are non-toxic.

The brief for the gardens was fragrance, colour and abundance all year round. And they are designed to require little maintenance after they are established.

I know you have a great interest and passion in Green initiatives both professionally and personally.

Can you tell me a little about what you do and how this affects your design choices and how you run Emerald Valley Villa?

I am the founder of the Emerald Planet Trust. The Trust has focused for 10 years into creating companies that provide a vehicle for the commercialization of environmental technologies and services. These technologies and service companies are now helping to clean the earth and water as well as address the very serious issues of Climate Change both by way of reduction in greenhouse gas production and other dangerous particulates that pollute the air. More recently in the last 2 years Emerald Planet has become involved in biofuels and sustainable forestry in Asia as well as major Avoided Deforestation Initiatives in the forests of Indonesian Papua. The operation of the Trust is dedicated to the belief that all form requires a structure and that the creation of lasting beauty and abundance comes from the correct application of inspiration, structure, discipline and compassion.

All the buildings are located on areas that were worn out paddock; there are many green building codes in Byron Shire since it has a green council. However in all regards I exceeded the requirements. The fact that there is rainforest on the land is of particular interest because it can be protected and where needed I have commenced regeneration.

I had decided that I would use the materials of Bali as a predominant feature of the villa. So as I went to Bali on my trips I met with my young friend Tobias Garritt who had moved to Bali from Australia to marry a Balinese Princess who is from one of Indonesia’s most well respected families. As my trips progressed he asked me if I would create an environmental business with him in Indonesia. Initially I said that I would only help him since I wanted to semi retire but after several trips one thing led to another and I commenced the businesses that I am now involved in being to put large areas of rainforest into perpetual trust, provide multi-generational support and employment for the communities as well as conserve rare and endangered species. So I now live in Asia and the villa is rented so that others can enjoy this amazing private estate.

What does your ideal day staying in the house include?

Waking up to see the sun come up over the misty valley. Riding the Polaris down to the river and waterfall and having a swim in the powerful energy of that natural place. Breakfast in the Valley Rice Barn overlooking Emerald valley. Walking round the gardens. Lunching on the terrace. A spa bath watching the soft pink glow of the valley as the sun sets. Dinner in the living room with its high cathedral ceiling and then relaxing in the master bathroom prior to retiring to the super-king size bed!

The gardens are quite something; it is obvious there is a lot of love going on there.

I wanted the villa to truly connect to the gardens so that the inside connected to the outside. I wanted the outside to be fragrant, colourful, lush, soft and curving. We incorporated the use of terracing to provide interest. Designing theses gardens with Tim Hays was truly fabulous – we have so many special species that as the garden matures it will become a private botanical garden.

What is your favourite room in the house?

The master suite flowing through the walk-in robes to the marble master bathroom.

Bursting with inspiration, Anna & Luke from Romance was Born, have just opened their “Pearls Dream” concept store, celebrating their current collection and its collaborators – this space encapsulates the total Romance aesthetic! Pearls Dream continues on from the “Doilies and Pearls, Oysters and Shells” SS0910 collection. It is a concept store which celebrates the collection and its collaborators.

“We feel so lucky to work with the people we do and Pearl’s Dream encapsulates our full Romance aesthetic.  Its about creating our world for the outside world to experience”.  Romance Was Born

“Doilies and Pearls, Oysters and Shells” features collaborative works by two Australian artists, Patrick Doherty and Indigenious shell worker Esme Timbery, and also jewellery by Romance Was Born’s accessories designer Paul Bonomelli.

Pearl’s Dream is Romance Was Born’s tribute to the stylish elegance of Grandmas and the olden days whilst exploring their fascination with the sea; that crystalline underwater world where mermaids are the keepers of its mysterious watery secrets.  Romance Was Born open up nanna’s glory box worn by the tides of time to reveal long forgotten treasures – glorious old jewels, budgies in a cage, 4711, a fine bone china tea set with a mother-of-pearl glaze, delicately aged lace doilies and other assorted goodies from a bygone era.

At last here it is our summer issue!

Our cover is a break away from our colour and luscious skin signature. I fretted a little in the dramatic Black and White version being too much of a departure, however the response to our test audience has been overwhelming YES!

Australian David Standish based in the UK shot the cover with our UK fashion editor, New Zealander Kate Ruth, featuring Alice Fadeeva with Hair & Makeup by Jaimee Thomas. And what an arresting image it was, sitting on our computers itching to be printed in heavy high gloss, the foil masthead just warming it. The image was just so strong – worked from two images in the editorial  “Enter Alexis” by the same team. I love fashion, photography and Art underlining ART in fashion photography. As one reader of the incredible blog by Patty Huntington [ FROCKWRITER ] made comment – I am so tired of blondes in sparkly dresses. -I hear you! I get to take risks. I own the magazine. The up shot of being an independent publisher is creative freedom. – And of course I also pay the bills! LOL

I encourage you to get your hands on a copy of this issue, I believe it to be one of our very best. Perhaps even a collectors edition.

looking forward to your feedback
x with love Marian