Flora Dust

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*DISCLAIMER* I haven't a bloody clue about flowers because every plant I touch withers and shrivels up in my hand because I have the exact opposite of green fingers so please forgive moments of floral-related ignorance…

I arrived at my room at the Westin (where all us RAFW international peeps are staying…) to be greeted by this glass vase of blooms in my room from the Sportsgirl team but little did I know that these pretty things that I love to look at but have no physical affinity with would pepper the collections of what I'd see at RAFW…

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I've known Therese Rawsthorne to do collections that were full of beautiful tailoring with a twist but for her S/S 12, it felt like a button had been pushed to soften the looks or have them slightly 'undone' and unfettered.  Aided by fresh flowers that graced the head or clasped together jackets and adorned the waist, dresses that had their backs twisted and were draped at the front looked less deliberately styled but more like clothes that would indeed look lovely with the pure addition of a flower or two.  My pics were slightly fuzzy but the rest of the collection consisted of a lot of the approachable yet interesting tailored pieces that Rawsthorne has been known for albeit adorned with a bud or two to match the pastel palette.  

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The relatively young designer Sara Phillips looked to native Australian flora for her collection that was shown around an impressive installation created by florists Henry Hudson (I gather there are a good number of florists in Sydney that create things that are infinitely better than your average Interflora fare…) which I believe is made up of plants and flowers native or symbolic of Australia.  Like I said, I could stand corrected.  Her print depicted snakes intertwining in amonst these national natural treaures  and from afar it had a similar effect as the famous Gucci Flora pattern but upon closer inspection of the species and types of flowers, the print becomes even more significant…

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I took away one of the flowers that was given to every guest purely because I was quite fascinated with the furry texture of the yet unopen bud… I've been told it maybe called a waratah… but again, I'm not 100% sure even after looking through Google Images and doing comparisons…

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In any case, my connection with flowers is on such a superficial level that I just basically flailed it around a bit and now it's sitting in my hotel room withering into brown mush and that's hopefully about the extent of my green-fingering this week…

We'll see what Melbourne brings as I'm on my way there this Saturday for three days… "I always relied on the kindness of strangers…" – any tips are of course MORE than welcome! 

Florals
(Wearing Rodebjer hat, vintage Rodier jacket, Tina Kalivas top, Toga trousers, H&M x Hasbeens wedges, Mulberry bag)

42 comments

  4. the flower with the furry bud is from a flowerfamily called Protea, also the national flower to south africa.
    Bj√∏rn

  8. Oh wow–those orchids look incredible! I basically want to live in that first dress all summer.

  9. Hmmm I’m not sure if that is a waratah and I am aussie – I thought that waratahs open up into spirally petal thingies but then I haven’t seen them closed and from “brown mush” – I guess you didn’t see this one open!
    Btw woot you’re coming down to Melbourne! I’m coming up to RAFW tonight to photograph streetstyle (may I please take your picture?) and hope to meet and share lowdown on things to see and do! In the meantime I know that there are a few Melb bloggers at RAFW already – @ladymelbourne @loupardi @ThisIsBento – who are each wonderful recommenders of all things melburnian.

  10. When in Melbourne gertrude St is a must, my friend Alice who used to work for Christopher Kane has just opened a shop. “Edgeley” 220 Gertrude St fitzroy xxx have fun xx Amanda capitalcitypretty.com

  12. As people have commented, It’s a protea. A waratah is also very pretty, but their natural season is much briefer and come in a stunning shad of red, and sometimes green/white.

  13. As you must know by now – that’s a protea. I used to work in a classy little Sydney florist – and those things would always make me laugh. There are these crazy pink ones with frilly tips that look like inside-out parrots.
    I love the prints of this collection – so refreshing to see some good prints here that are also well cut!

  16. Lovely collection, I adore your hat and those paisley print trousers – so lush!
    Amy xxx

  18. I love your hat! It is so nice to see someone with your style cred sporting such a vibrant chapeau!
    love Lucy
    hataffair.blogspot.com

  21. Hey so weird to see you in Sydney where I walk every day! If you want a good coffee in Sydney try Workshop espresso bar on George St across the road from the Queen Victoria Building/Town Hall station xx worth it! Too bad you will miss the Vienna exhibition at Art Gallery Victoria I’m going down to Melbourne in June for it!! Can’t believe it real Egon Schiele in Australia wooooo! But I guess you can just like pop over to Vienna on the weekend from London anyway.. have a blast in Melbourne xx Hope u enjoyed Dion Lee can’t wait for photos 🙂
    xx
    winnsome

  24. Welcome to Melbourne! I agree with Amanda that Gertrude St is one of the lovelier streets. Likewise, Crossley Street is also good for an explore and Curtin House on Swanston Street has some interesting shopping. If you’re a coffee drinker try Brother Baba Budan on Little Bourke. I hope you enjoy your stay!

  26. Ha ha, what’s the opposite to green fingers? Pink fingers? You might not be the perfect gardener, but you carry off the florals with aplomb (and this gif makes me totally dizzy).

  30. I agree regarding Gertrude street, go into Signet Bureau at 165 Gertrude Street and check out the beautiful shoes by Preston Zly http://www.thesignetbureau.com also see if you can contact them at info@prestonzlydesign.com so you can maybe visit their workroom around the corner….amazing! Email me directly for a phone contact. Oh and Christines in Flinders Lane is heaps of fun – basement 181 Flinders Lane right in the city (it’s a door in a wall). Have a fun weekend!!

  38. Aside from the fact that the pictures are gorgeous and the clothes are to-die-for (how cliche, yes i know)… your last two post with makeaGIF made me crap up completely (I tend to be very serious during my day job- you see, I am a banker).
    Great posts Susie and I may have to do a ‘makeaGIF’ in your honour.
    Whoop Whoop
    PvdH
    http://www.thepvdhjournal.com

  39. Alice Euphemia, Pieces of Eight and Captains of Industry (for a beautiful Melbourne coffee and handmade shoes)!

  40. Hey!! I totally love your blog and I’ve been reading every post since I first went on 🙂
    Anyway, Melbourne’s GREAT. Its got loads of architecture and there’s this GIANT GIANT MEGA SHOPPING MALL called Chadstone! Its just HUGE. You can get a free shuttle there from the city…. near the technology museum thing! (sorry I can’t quite remember the details! :D)

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