Look Book Love

Say bonjour to French beauty Camille Rowe, aka the new face (and body) of Seafolly's 2013 campaign. The homegrown swimsuit brand has a habit of tapping the hottest Australian modelling talent for their iconic campaigns (Catherine McNeil, Miranda Kerr, Kristy Hinze, Jessica Hart, Alyssa Sutherland. . . ), but for twenty thirteen Seafolly has gone all Euro on us, employing the pillow-lipped Parisienne local. Having racked up campaigns for Chloé fragrance, GAP and Abercrombie & Finch, Camille is a sure bet.

David Gubert snapped Camille posing up a storm on the sands of Hawai's Waikiki beach in what we think is one of the labels' strongest collections to date. Neon chevrons, high-waisted two pieces reminiscent of '50s pin-ups and more hot house florals than you could poke a coconut at. Step inside to see the first installment of this high-wattage partnership (which drops in-stores June), plus see an exclusive behind the scenes snap of Camille at work. 

Fashion community service announcement: Have you met West 14th? No? Well, let this serve as your official introduction to the Bondi Beach-based brand. Specialising in leather (which we can't get enough of this week), the home-grown label is nailing that modern yet luxurious mix when it comes to this traditionally old school niche. Designer Violeta Tentomas takes inspiration from the streets of New York City's meatpacking district, but you can see the fresh, athletic influence of Sydney's beach culture in her clean designs too. Wanna see? Step inside to view the latest A/W collection from this label on the up. . .

We recently took in a preview of Shona Joy's Spring/Summer 2013-'14 collection, and have to say — she made us sit up and take notice. Beautiful custom prints, killer cocktail frocks that walk that tricky sexy/cool line and resort-ready dresses that were begging to be put poolside. It was good. All of it. Here's the sad bit. . . It won't be hitting shelves (virtual or physical) until July. However, we did revisist her current Winter campaign with fresh eyes, and can see the genesis of good things. Oversized cropped trenches, perforated leather minis and plus-sized florals hint at the fresh aesthetic that this local label has been cooking up. And luckily this batch has recently dropped in-stores and online. Mark our words: this girl is on fire. 

News flash: the delightful Geneva Vanderzeil from A Pair and a Spare blog-fames has collaborated on a a capsule collection of tricked up heels with Tony Bianco. We spotted the ever-smiling Geneva skipping between shows during fashion week and couldn't help but do a double-take at her chain-strap t-bar pumps. Now we know that her two-tone wheels were a prototype her own just-released line. Joining the crafty lineup are lace-up, super-strappy and fringed stiletto styles too, which retail for between $199.95 and $219.95. Margaret Zhang from Shine by Three lensed, and helped to style the killer shoot. After clicking through this street-style inspired campaign you'll want a pair and a couple of spares, at least! Images courtesy of Margaret Zhang. 

Melbourne-based brand May the Label has done it again, pushing out a easy-to-wear, impossible-to-resist line for the season ahead. For Winter 2013, designer Georgia Phillis has pushed her distinctive prints albeit this time with a distinctly '60s twist. Wear the paisleys, pixelated patterns and florals with block-coloured separates for simplicity's sake, or double up in like-minded a trouser or short suit. We asked Georgia to give us the downlow on her latest baby. Step inside to see what the brains behind this local operation had to say.

With a tagline like "F*ck weddings," you know you're in for a treat. US label Stone Fox Bride released its Spring 2013 look book this week, featuring designer Pamela Love lip-locking with none other than Jemima Kirke — also known as Jessa Johansson from HBO's Girls. While it may be considered a strong statement (with same-sex marriage laws being debated as we speak), it also simply highlights the elegance and grace of two women together, wearing beautifully crafted dresses. If you're a bride who essentially hates all things bridal, then Stone Fox Bride is your go-to for beautiful non-wedding wedding dresses. The brand eschews "anything puffy or fluffy, stiff flowers, and pink cupcakes" and is more for the backyard barbecue bride than the stuffy princess type.

We love how the line celebrates "looking like a more radiant version of your regular self," and prioritises being cool and comfortable over everything else. Each custom-made dress is hand-draped in New York and made with fabrics sourced from Italy, India, and France. Stone Fox Bride has a plethora of colours to choose — you can even dream up your own ombré combination — in addition to tons of lengths, silhouettes, and styles. With evocative style names like The Frida, The June Carter, and, of course, The Jemima, each gown has a cool, laid-back personality of its own. If you prefer floral crowns to traditional veils and long and lacy rather than big and poufy, then this is the bridal line for you. Best bit? They ship to Oz! Click through now to see all of Stone Fox Bride's stunning Spring gowns.

With SXSW behind us and Coachella on the horizon, the US music-festival season is about to provide some serious satorial inspiration, and here to help us with all of our "what to wear" queries is Free People. The American retailer's latest look book boasts a bevy of whimsical dresses, cut-off shorts, and gauzy tops that are bound to inspire a spate of online shopping sprees. Thank the fashion gods they ship to Oz!

Zara's international April look book is rife with the kind of pieces that perfectly capture this season's breezier sensibility. That's not to say there aren't more polished styling counterparts — because there are — but if we're to forecast the month ahead according to Zara, it's looking like a laid-back affair. The floral prints, which are reminiscent of scenes stolen right off of a vintage china plate, take shape on cap-sleeved shifts, shorts sets, relaxed blouses, and pencil skirts. The quintessential blazer comes oversized with bold buttons, in a soft pastel blue tuxedo iteration, and cut in a longer double-breasted silhouette. And where there's silky texture, there's a flowing red jumpsuit, a sportier colour-blocked maxi dress, and palazzo trousers to indulge in. Zara's latest is certainly something to be inspired by, so let's hope the full collection makes it way to a Zara near you (and me!). See the complete look book here.

Zimmermann is rather big in the U.S of A, did you know? Which is why this home-grown fashion hero is releasing it's 2013-2014 Swim campaign now. You see it'll satisfy the shopping appetites of American fans of Zimmermann's famously-fabulous cossies, whilst filling the vacation-wear gap in the market for Australian customers. Clever, non? In line with this new global view, Zimmermann is sadly missing from MBFWA's 2013 schedule — and will instead show their S/S 2014 collection at New York fashion week this September. It follows then that the campaign was shot with a distinctly Aussie bent; local snapper Derek Henderson capturing the natural beauty of both the landscape, Capertree Valley just north of Sydney, and of fashion newbie Gabby Westbrook-Patrick. Zimmermann's signature prints find their way onto their swim separates for the first time, but the familiar cool-girl feminine aesthetic remains. 

Along with the retailer's Coachella-ready wares, H&M is launching The New Icons, a collection inspired by its campaign models, Joan Smalls, Liu Wen, Lindsey Wixson, and Daphne Groeneveld. And, as you may have guessed by the source of inspiration, the clothes prove just as cool as the ladies wearing them. With a rocker edge that reminds us of Givenchy-meets-Joan-Jett appeal, and a romantic Americana slant that's more Ralph Lauren in the '90s, the latest batch of H&M clothes offers up an easy "road map" for emulating a similar brand of cool-girl styling. We're particularly drawn to the silver-embellished black vest, cream-colored ruffle lace miniskirt, and the drawstring bucket bag both Smalls and Wixson show off in the campaign. Here's your first look at The New Icons collection — available in stores O/S in early April — right this way.