Saturday, October 2, 2010

Stella McCartney for Target

Sponsored by Nuffnang

Friday night in Sydney, under a veil of mystery and excitement Target Australia announced its latest international designer collaboration. Lucky me, I was invited to attend the event, which was held at (according to our water taxi driver) the mansion that Hugh Jackman rents out when he is in town (for a rumoured $35,000 a week!), which of course had its own pier, pool and view of the harbour bridge. Only in Sydney.

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I was put up at the 5 star Blue Sydney hotel, a chic designer hotel located in an old 1930's wool shed situated on a pier with views of the harbour. The same building that Russell Crowe lives in. I can get used to this kind of luxury.

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Our water taxi. This part was very scary in high heels, climbing down a ladder backwards! All worth it though for the views that were to come.

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This is the 1st grey and cloudy day I have seen since moving up here, but the view from the boat was still amazing.

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My new best friend Emma, from Dropstitch, and I in our matching Make Believe necklaces with some boats and the harbour bridge in the background once we arrived at the mansion.

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Doesn't this setting remind you an episode of Gossip Girl or the OC. So glamorous.

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All of us invited bloggers from left to right Sarah from Style Melbourne, Me, Emily from Little Black Book, Emma from Dropstitch, Sam from Sassisam and Karen from Karen Cheng's Fashion and Life.

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My outfit for the night, representing Melbourne Style. The dress under my City Chic macrame piece is actually something I bought while in NYC recently. I want to show you guys it without the layer over the top. The black cardigan was a bargain buy at a sample sale recently.

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The models started to mozy about in the little vignette's set up for them to pose in. At this stage we still had no idea who the designer was so the guessing game began, is it Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors? We all felt that we had seen a similar collection as a resort collection by a big designer, we just couldn't place who.

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The beading on this shift dress is just spectacular. I couldn't stop photographing it.

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The tea party setting, with my fave model Samantha Harris pretty in pink. I yelled out, Samantha, remember me? I assisted on the TV look book shoot, she nodded and continued on with her modelling like “man who is this crazy person” haha.

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The view of the party, pool and harbour bridge with a cruise ship going bast from the balcony.

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Sarah, from Style Melbourne, and I, being Melbournites were very excited to see the singer from the ad for “Sails on the bay” perform. You can download the song here.

Time for the announcement, the designer is Stella McCartney.

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Its a much more sophisticated and grown up collection than the 1st Target Australia and Stella McCartney collaboration. The capsule collection ranges in price from $20 to $299.95 and comes in sizes 6 to 16 meaning I can actually buy some of the pieces.

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My two favourite pieces are the black lace dress and the off white ribbon tie dress pictured above.

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Here are the look book images of said dresses. The black lace dress is $199 and the off white dress is $149. I am definitely trying both on as soon as they drop into stores on the 29th of October.

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Hopefully I can find these other favourites too. The black belt is $39 and such a classic shape that it will come in handy for so many looks. For some reason I am really drawn to the Nylon version of the tote bag $99, I think its because I'm really digging 90's minimalism at the moment and that fabrication reminds me so much of what was big back then. The bangles are too cute not to pick up and are only $29. Lastly here is that beautiful beaded shift which is only $249, which for the level of work that has gone into it is quite amazing. Stella McCartney approved all the fittings and fabric's of the collection so you know that what you are getting is good quality but also ethically sound. Stella's stance against animal cruelty is a cause close to my heart as you all know, and an event where the entire menu was vegetarian is such a rare treat and surprise (Stella approved the menu) and then to add to that is the quality and beauty of what is essentially an all vegan capsule collection. Vegan clothing doesn't have to mean a hemp sack dress any more.

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I was so excited to meet one of my heroes, Jenny Kee, whose previous collaboration with Target I have blogged about. I actually own a few pieces from that collection, my favourite being the vase that I spoke of in that post. Jenny was such a delight to speak to, she is still as enthusiastic and passionate about the fashion industry and art as she was back in the 1960's and 70's when she was living in swinging London and then retuning home to change the face of the Australian fashion industry. She is a true Australian icon. We spoke of art, art school, her step sons band Old man River, and how blogging is a similar movement to what was happening in her time. I really appreciated her saying that.

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Here Jenny is wrapping herself in her 1st silk scarf for 20 years. She painted her waratah's, of which she has 2000 in her garden. Such a beautiful piece.

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All of us bloggers with Jenny Kee and Murray the GM of Target in the background.

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Lastly, a photo of me with Kerri Anne, who I guess is Australia's version of Oprah for those of you reading this from afar. She was so nice about letting me take a photo with her, and so beautiful in person. A great way to end a fantastic evening.

You can check out the full look book and keep up to date with any goss about the collection at the Designers for Target website. Also on the site is a great competition on offer for you to win the chance to shop the collection before it hits stores with a $1500 Target gift card, such an awesome prize but it gets even better. There are going to be 2 winners per state and each winner gets to bring a friend! Enter here and good luck xoxo

23 comments:

  1. Sheesh, what an amazing night! And in my home town, no less! Incredible.

    And I know Sam of Sassi Sam, she's lovely! I worked as her intern in October last year :)

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  2. That tea party setting!! Totes my favourite, how predictable. I'm really impressed by the vego catering too, YAYYY!!

    I am pretty bummed this doesn't come in plus sizes though. Le sigh. Again.

    Looks like a fab night though!

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  3. The OC yes.. but not Gossip Girl? Gossip Girl is set in NY - no sprawling mansions with pools there :)

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  4. haha I hardly think KA is the Australian version of Oprah. Also, I find your 'vegetarianism' a bit of a joke. You buy leather, you wear leather, and everytime you blog about a new pair of shoes or whatever, the sales of those items increase, and hence you're supporting the meat industry, in more ways than one. It seems your vegetarianism is just another fashion statement. As a vegan I don't appreciate it, and I'm pretty sure Stella wouldn't either.
    If you're against the cruelty of animals, why not use your popularity for the good and lead by example.

    Wise up, stopping being a poser.

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  5. Looks like such an awesome night! That photo of the house from the other side of the pool is breathtaking x Sushi

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  6. Wolfgang, my shoes and bag in this post are both vinyl! I only have ONE leather item, and it is a vintage belt which I have owned for 4 years now. I haven't eaten meat for SIXTEEN years. Give me a break!

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  7. You look really happy since moving to Sydney Hayley.

    Good luck with everything. x

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  8. That is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in a long time, possibly ever!

    1. Being a vegetarian doesnt mean you have to not have something leather its generally about the eating part. My friend is a full vegetarian and she still sits in my mums car when she has LEATHER SEATS. And Hayley has never posted anything about owning leather except for that one belt.

    2. Even if she did blog something about leather and the "sales of those items increase" its not her fault.

    She is not being a poser at all! She was saying how she liked that all the food had NO MEAT. And by the sounds of where you're coming from YOU should be happy. She's just blogging and being herself, shes not fucking super women!

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  9. I'm so upset I'm not in Australia for this one! I didn't like her last collection but this is so similar to her mainline collection (especially the lace pieces). I guess she'd never do this in the UK as it may canabalise her sales which are very strong here compared to Aust or US. I may have to resort to ebay...party looks absolutely amazing!

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  10. I was reading the part about Jenny Kee wondering 'where have I heard that name before?' Then I realised Richard Neville wrote about her in his book 'Hippie Hippie Shake'. I had no idea she was a designer, I thought she was just another of Neville's friends.

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  11. Some of you people are so hard to please SHEESH!! Hang in there Hayley, you're a person not wonder woman!

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  12. http://s216.photobucket.com/albums/cc186/fashion_hayley/?action=view&current=Westfield05.jpg

    One item ? Are you serious ?

    Stella is one of many designers who have proven that animal ethics and fashion can co exist.
    I understand you haven't consumed meat for sixteen years and objected to the inhuman treatment of pigeons. But this doesn't excuse the fact that you promote non vegetarian products, knowing full well the influence your blog will have on sales.
    This isn't about being super woman, its about being real.

    And max you're nothing more than an ignorant child who's obsession with fashionhayley and lack of any real knowledge has YOU to look 'stoopid'

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  13. Wolfgang, I am a vegetarian and not a vegan, so I can wear leather if I like and with those shoes I didn't realise they were real leather because my brain was clouded with love for them! All I said in this post is that it exictes me that this is an ethically sound collection. So aren't I using my "influence" for good in this post? Bringing up the issue and letting people know about the collection?

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  14. It was just stupid for you to even bring up the subject at all. Various people have various opinions, and if yours is to put someone down; then just keep it to yourself.

    I dont have an "obsession" with Hayley - it was just something that came to my attention. I am not the one searching through twitter and stalking tweets.

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  15. Wow man, that looks like one hell of a night, reminds me of one of those parties the entourage boys would go to. Jenny Kee, stole it for me and then I read through your comments to find yet another fanny!

    Sleekit x

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  16. how hot is Kerri Anne!!!? i want to look like that when I'm 50+ !

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  17. Can't wait for the collection to hit the stores :)

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  18. The City Chic macrame dress amazing, very jealous!

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  19. I don't think Oprah would be caught on canera blaming women for being raped though.

    Ahem anyway

    lovely photos of the event - Wish I could stay in that hotel! Looks so gorgeous!!

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  20. I lovee your necklace
    This looks just so incredible
    It sounds fantastic, Im sure you had the most amazing time

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  21. This looks incredible you lucky girl!! Loving the outfit too, can never go wrong with black! I love Sam's Romance was born dress as well, AMAZING!

    Just found your blog on AU fashion bloggers, def following now!

    Loz
    voguecontradiction.blogspot.com

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  22. Very nice :) such a beautiful experience it seems!!! lovely photos too...very beautiful and you got onto a water taxi on heels lol oh my...I wuld be shaking in them while trying to climb down toatlly give you majot kudos for that....

    well be sure to chk me out as well :)

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  23. Just stumbled across your blog and spent ages browsing. Love it.

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