shopping

Now that we've sold you on the importance of adding cashmere to your Essential Wardrobe, we thought we explore how to keep those luxe knits in tip-top shape. We asked knit queen Ellie Aitken of Sydney-based cashmere brand Aitken & Co. for her expert advice. From the best way to wash (or not!), store and de-pill, Ellie had some killer tips. We'll let her take it from here, "To ensure your cashmere continues to look beautiful for many years to come it must be handled with care. Being a devoted cashmere wearer myself, here are my top tips for caring for your luxurious cashmere garments. . . "

International shoe giant Aldo is jumping on the designer collaboration bandwagon, bringing high end heels with high street prices to our door via their Aldo Rise line.  This is not the first time Aussie customers will benefit from Aldo's collaborative efforts, this making the joint capsule with UK design team Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi from Preen by Thornton and Bregazzi Aldo's third. Previous team efforts have included killer ollections with JW Anderson and Mark Fast. Let us be clear, this stellar six piece offering is not for wallflowers. Pointy-toed pumps spliced with snakeskin, sharp two-strap stilettos and no-nonsense hardware suggest that these heels are made for walkin', not talkin'. Selected stores nationally will be receiving the drop come August and, at a price point of $189.95, we're guessing they will disappear faster than you can say "Size 37 please."

With the temperature hitting proper-cold, Winter levels we've got a sudden interest in all things warming: hot chocolate, homemade soups and cosy knits. But not any old acrylic blend. Nuh-uh! The most luxurious yarn of all is cashmere, and this week we're going to investigate why it's worth it's weight in Max Brenner chocolate drops. This luxurious yarn is essentially the underlayer of fleece collected from the wool of the Cashmere (or Kashmir) goat. It's strong, very warm and exceedingly soft to touch — making cashmere a brilliant insulator and velvety-smooth to wear. Can you hear those cash registers ringing? Ka-ching!

Once you wear cashmere, it's hard to go back. Whether you're a cashmere collector from way back, or are yet to invest in your first piece — let us walk you through the best brands to buy from. These labels know their knits, so you can rest assured that these classic crews will pay for themselves in the chilly months to come. Cost per wear, remember? Winter, come at us! 

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. 

Begone, Monday! Doutzen Kroes' latest turn as the face of H&M's High Summer campaign makes us want to be gallivanting on some far-off shore. Sure, Beyoncé may have heated things up in the brand's Summer kick-off campaign, but this Terry Richardson-shot spread is all sunshine, perfectly touslled beach hair, and of course, beach-bound essentials — with Tulum, Mexico, as the backdrop. Inside, Kroes shows off a cool mix of easy cover-ups, belted and accented with statement jewelry, and truth be told, there's really not much more you need than that. A look at the H&M High Summer campaign, as well as our favourite picks from the collection, here.

During this week's Leather Only research trip, we've come across some newbie brands that deserve a little extra attention (much appreciated, Instagram). Thanks to fashion's continuing obsession with this durable fabrication, a number of start-up brands are producing leather-only or leather-focused collections. The consequence of this more focused approach is the production of leather pieces that not only fit better, but are priced better too. Step inside to meet the five fresh-faced fashion labels who are showing the old school crew how it's done. 

Often, trends take on a more adventurous edge — like say, punk-themed accessories or vibrant ethnic-inspired pieces — so it's refreshing when things swing towards a more minimal aesthetic. This week, we're zeroing in on the most simplistic ear adornment we've seen in ages: the bar stud. They're dainty, delicate and edgy all at once, and whether you like yours with studs, black diamonds (yes, please), or plain and simple like Ginnifer Goodwin's, there's a pair to appeal to everyone. We've shortlisted our faves to a list of 10 — click through to see, and shop!

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. . .