Denissa

Shots from my shoot with the incredibly talented Denissa!

Denissa

PHOTOGRAPHER | GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA

BLOG| www.denisssa.tumblr.com

FlICKR|  www.flickr.com/photos/denissa_  

VIMEO| https://vimeo.com/denissa

PH| +61402736260 
IG| digitalgurl

Interview with a Stylist

Kurt Aaron James Johnson

Kurt

Stylist work for Don't Want no Scrub Look Book

I was lucky enough to interview stylist Kurt Aaron James Johnson who runs his own blog and still finds time to work at Estate of Mind. Always incredibly fun to talk to and one of the most exciting people in the Sydney Fashion scene right now. i was very excited to hear his responses; 

1. So Kurt tell me what is your earliest memory when it comes to clothes?

I would have to say stepping into General Pants Co. in Miranda Fair.
I was so excited to get some clothes that all the popular kids in school were wearing. 
My mum has always been frugal in terms of clothing.
Total opposite to what I have grown into.

Kurt

2. How old were you? And how did you realise that working in the fashion industry is what you wanted to do?

I was about 14. A very impressionable 14.
I realised I wanted to work in the fashion industry at about 18 though.
I got very into it at about age 17, and at 18 I knew I wanted something to do with the industry.

3. At the moment you work part time at estate of mind, and part time as a stylist, do you find that your experience as a stylist helps you in a store environment?

Very much so. It helps in my selling the clothing as I have the knowledge of what to put the insane items with to make the outfit wearable.

It helps the customer see the sense in the wearability of the crazy items we have in store.

Stylist work for Estate of Mind

4. With your stylist work, what do you find to be the biggest challenge? And what do you find really rewarding about it? 

My biggest challenge to date has been a job that was for a photographer whose brief was "pretty". That's not my standard work style, but it pushed me to find a new style that I can engage with. That was also probably the most rewarding thing to date. Knowing that I can accomplish more than what I had thought prior to that shoot.

Stylist work for Estate of Mind

5. How did you start your stylist work? And what has been the highlight for you so far in this line of work? 

My first styling job came about through my work.

I had been asked by my boss to go to a shoot and assist her on a shoot for Backyard Opera, which I took control of.
I love a challenge and I knew I had what it took to make the shoot mine.
This experience opened me up to working with the amazing photographer Toni Veziris on multiple occasions afterwards.
It really started me off.

Kurt

6. Before a new shoot Do you trial your outfit/style ideas on yourself or friends? Or do you wait for the individual you'll be styling? 

I get garments that are suited to whatever the brief is that I get.
Then I work on the shoot. It makes the shoot flow a little easier and lets all of the creative energy in the room influence your own work.
It's more (I hate to sound like that wanker, but) organic product that translates through photographs.

7. What advice would you have for anyone who is wanting to get into stylist work? 

Do work that you love.

It translates into the finished product.
When you're getting a portfolio together, contact any photographers you know.
Work with people who will push you. 
Just don't fucking hold back. The more impressive your work is, the more likely it will be that someone of importance will notice your work.

Stylist work for Estate of Mind

 8. Fashion at the moment is incredibly versatile, what are your favourite and least favourite trends/looks for the coming summer season? 

Favourite trends are sneakers, slides, holographic, sequinned embellishments and crazy prints.

I'm not talking some cute pastel flowers bullshit on a silk cami, I mean staring at a t shirt and wondering who slipped of acid into your mouth.
Least favourite trends are definitely the standard crochet, cut off denim shorts and band t shirt festival trend that seems to stick to the Sydney fashion scene like a piece of fucking chewing gum stuck to the bottom of your shoe.
To add to that list, numbered jersey's and skorts need to be burnt at the stake.

9. If you could do absolutely anything in fashion right now, what would it be?

I am doing what I love.
Buying for +ESTATEofMIND is a dream job. I only wish the store had a larger reach so I could go on buying trips and buy the crazy gear that I dream about ie Nasir Mazhar, Katie Eary and Moonspoon Saloon.

10. What should we expect to see in the next few months from yourself? Whether it be styling or yourself being photographed?

I'm always keeping myself busy, putting my forked tongue into every possible project I can be a part of. At the moment, I'm assisting in the buys for +ESTATEofMIND, helping my babe status boyfriend launch his label [Don't Want No Scrub] and doing a heap of freelance styling work. Keep your eyes on my Instagram @holographicserpent to stay updated with my work [and myriad of selfies]

Stylist Work

11. Finally who would you say are your style icons? If any or do you just wear what you like? And are there any people in your life that are inspirations or role models to you?

Style Icon... I don't think I have a style icon that I can directly translate into what I wear.

I like to think that I try and emulate Brooke Candy's energy and definiteltt her shoes, but I love being inspired by the trends I see coming through work and on the internet.
The most vital part of being successful in the fashion industry is learning to be transient in terms of trends. They come and go, so being open to influences from my environment is what I thrive on.

Kurt

It was an absolute pleasure speaking with Kurt (contact information below), i have a couple other people lined up for a short interview in the coming weeks! so stay tuned, i hope you enjoyed! take careI

Kurt:

Instagram: holographicserpent

Blog: www.holographicserpent.com

E-mail: kurt@estateofmind.com.au

Piqueras and picturesque views

Wearing: Roberto Piqueras shirt and trackpants, Rick Owens Sneakers.

Finally found the time last weekend to get a shoot done at a location we had been looking to shoot for two or three weeks now. Down at Stanwell Tops just outside Wollongong is a lovely lookout at bald hill reserve which myself and photographer Shannon drove down to, and I'm extremely glad we did! It was home to one of the most breathtaking views I have ever seen, the photos don't even begin to do it juctice! The sea just rolled out to the horizon creating a majestic backdrop on what was a beautiful day, a touch windy however, we managed to get some fantastic shots of myself in my new Roberto Piqueras outfit from Estate of Mind who are starting to get some of the most fantastic new stock! These are some of my favourite photos so far, hope you enjoy them just as much!

Opinions: Shopping and Paris Fashion Week

New Daniel Palillo Jacket from Estate Of Mind

I have always been the type of person to really enjoy the shopping experience. The customer service, the store environment, trying things on, the ability to touch and feel the materials and textures rather then looking at a picture on a screen, I personally find it a more enriching and satisfying experience (I plan on looking at internet shopping vs actual shopping in depth in the coming weeks). Unfortunately several years ago my tastes began to change and I found myself limited in terms of what Sydney stores offered in relation to menswear. Thankfully, this began to change over the past year - year and six months Sydney has undergone a fashion renaissance. Assisted by a completely revamped shopping area in the city, there has been an emergence of fantastic boutique stores which have really allowed collections and brands that were almost unheard of in Australia to flourish. 

In my mind at the forefront of this wave of new stores is Estate of Mind, not just due to there ever expanding range, which is second to none showcasing up and coming, and underground labels from Australia and the rest of the world but due to there customer service. Every time I enter the store, the staff are always extremely welcoming and friendly, willing to have a conversation with you while you browse not just standing idly by waiting for you to need assistance, the experience is such that even if you went to the store by yourself the staff would make it feel like you're shopping with friends. Stocking products for men and women with a large number of the pieces being unisex has helped the store gather a large fan base with the alternative fashion crowd in Sydney, due to an edgy and often in your face attitude that is demonstrated through the store environment, their presence on social media and the labels that are sold in the store including names such as WIA, KTZ, ProudRace, Emma Mulholland, House of Holland, Human Potential, Daniel Palillo, and soon to feature Roberto Piqueras. Its this fantastic range that means I never leave the store without something new for my collection (see above, excuse the mobile phone photos) but its the service and whole environment that keep me coming back week in and week out. If you live in Sydney or are merely visiting I strongly recommend you check out this retail gem, the store can be found at the Basement of 80 Oxford St, Darlinghurst and online at Estate of mind and there blog.  Go visit you won't regret it at all, and chances are you'll leave with an amazing piece of clothing.

Lastly I wanted to share my opinion on two collections from Paris Fashion Week I have seen a fair bit of today on Tumblr. I haven't been following it closely but I have to say I really like both Raf Simons and Julius collection that were presented overnight, pictures featured below are not mine.. It was classic Raf bold, dynamic, pushing the boundaries of menswear and with a very clean aesthetic. The futuristic boots and sneakers the models wore complimented the outfits nicely adding a real edge to many looks that would have a vastly different feel with different shoes, the stand out for myself though were the jackets, the minimal detailing gives a fresh edgy look to some very well cut jackets that would be suitable in a formal or casual environment (see below). Julius' collection was a coming of age moment for he label in my eyes, I loved every look from the dominated by the expected monochromatic palette, the majority outfits were dominantly all black or white, but there were several looks that featured a fantastic black and white pattern somewhat reminiscent of an ink blot test, the individual pieces of the collection seem to have several possibilities for styling, as well as the shoes which I was amazed by, three varying style of boots, one with a zipper that runs vertically along the laces, another with multiple laces that give a wonderful layering effect, and the third that features Velcro ties and leather that extends all the way to the sole are easily my favourite, they have a very clean yet very modern look and I feel they capped off a fantastic collection from the team at Julius. I heard it said it was similar to earlier Rick Owens collections , while I accept that in menswear there is always an element of crossover, this doesn't ring true for me, Rick Owens alters and warps proportions a lot more with his collections while this collection especially from Julius features a more fitted aesthetic as well as the vast difference in materials and treatments used from what I've seen. I can see how you can compare the lines as they have a similar aesthetic but for me I don't see this as being overly similar to any Rick Owens collections.

That's all from me for now! thanks for reading while I ranted, stay tuned as I should be doing another photo shoot this weekend and will post that up as early as possible, have a nice weekend!

Raf Simons SS14

Raf Simons SS14

Raf Simons SS14

Raf Simons SS14

Raf Simons SS14

Raf Simons SS14

Raf Simons SS14

Julius SS14

Julius SS14

Julius SS14

Julius SS14

Julius SS14

Julius SS14