The Iconic Fashion Blog.

-What inspired you to work in fashion?

 I was always fond of illustrating and creating artworks. Before studying fashion I attended courses in Fine Arts at university. Then became a tow-truck driver. But after watching an Italian film about an orphan who became a designer the penny dropped and I found what I wanted to do in life. I enrolled into fashion school the next day. That was 8 years ago.

-What inspired you to work in fashion?

As I was growing up I loved fashion and playing dress ups but then I
forgot about it and completed a Communications degree, dreaming
of working in features. It was whilst doing an internship at Marie Claire Magazine years ago, that I fell in love with fashion and clothing again. I decided to set out on that path instead. I have never looked back. I love my job.

-What are your favourite looks this season?

Colour, colour, colour and more colour. The bolder the better. But not neon. There is never any excuse to wear neon. I'm also a sucker for a gorgeous platform heel and oversized jewellery.

-Where is your most favourite place in the world?

Oh tough call. I have just visited Tokyo for the first time and loved 
it. I didn't have nearly enough time and can't wait to go back. I also 
adore London at Christmas with the cold weather, beautiful coats and Christmas lights. I am yet to visit India but I have a feeling I would have a ball trawling through all the fabrics and beads and experiencing such a colourful culture.

-What are some of your interests and hobbies?

Designing and making jewellery (I used to have my own label which I am 
about to relaunch- so stay tuned). Flea markets, craft shopping and $2 
shops. My boyfriend also gave me fishing gear for Christmas so I can't 
wait until it's warm enough to start fishing and drinking wine 
together in the evenings again.

-If you were down to your last $10, what would you buy?

Ingredients to make my close friends dinner. They can bring the wine.

-Any favourite fashion purchases?

My Matthew Williamson purple coat. It is absolutely stunning with pink stitching along the puffed sleeves and lapel. Also, my orange and black embroidered Gucci Hobo bag that I picked up for a third of the price in Woodbury Common Designer Outlet just outside NYC years ago. That place is a goldmine.

-What would you never wear?

Crop tops, even supermodels shouldn't wear them. Ugh.

-What can't you live without?

My mum, step dad, friends and boyfriend. But not to sound totally 
clichéd I would have to say my car. Sad but true! Red wine, Salmon 
Sashimi, cuddles, goals and ambitions. What is the point if you have 
nothing to work towards and get excited about.

-What can you not leave the house without?

My blackberry! Again sad but true! And a spare set of contact lenses.

-Who are your "Iconic" style icons?

The craziness of Isabella Blow (RIP), Vivienne Westwood, Patricia 
Field and Betsey Johnson. The beautiful simplicity of Sophie Dahl, 
Lily Cole and Scarlett Johansson (note they are all pale)

-If you could be someone for 24 hours, who would you want to be and why?

Katie Grand, Editor of Pop Magazine and other titles, Stylist and 
Consultant for Giles Deacon, Prada, Mui Mui, Louis Vuitton and many 
more designers. Need I say more? The woman is an amazing talent!

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Visit www.lydiajanesaunders.com for more fashion styling and fashion photography!

-What inspired you to work in fashion?

My grandmother - Adelina

-What are your favourite looks this season?

Oversized blazers over pretty day dresses. Floral prints!!! I love floral prints. The leather jacket back in full force.

-Where is your most favourite place in the world?

I have so many but my two favs are Paris & Tokyo

-What are some of your interests and hobbies?

I love going to the beach, Sunday afternoon drinks, vintage shopping & travelling to amazing countries that I have not been to yet.

-If you were down to your last $10, what would you buy?

A glass of champagne and a lotto ticket.

-Any favourite fashion purchases?

My favourite bag at the moment is a little black leather hand bag I recently bought in Japan from a Japanese label – Tambu. It is alligator skin with a long gold chain…. Devine!!!

-What would you never wear?

I never say never ;)

-What can't you live without?

Family & friends

-What can you not leave the house without?

My blackberry

-Tell us about what you are currently designing and the inspiration behind the products.

I am currently designing Winter 09. It will be a ‘Secret Garden’ theme. Can’t give away too much as it’s still in sampling stage.

-Who are your "Iconic" style icons?

Kate Moss, Audrey Hepburn

-If you could be someone for 24 hours, who would you want to be and why?

The queen. I would want to know what it feels like to be royalty just for one day.

-Any last anecdotes/jokes/comments:

My favorite quote is “I’m here for a good time not a long time”, I love it because it reminds me to make each moment in life count!!

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Visit www.valerietolosa.com or www.leblackbook.com.au for more Valerie Tolosa.

-What inspired you to work in fashion?

I’ve had an interest in fashion since a very young age.  I remember trying on my mum’s cocktail dresses when I was about 9 and wishing I was about 2ft taller! J. 

In my early teens I would cut pictures of fashion models out of magazines and put them into my little blue velvet box.  I have no idea what I was saving those images for but they were so precious to me.  It’s like I was storing fashion history.

-What are your favourite looks this season?

Headbands, biker boots, knee high socks and geek chic glasses.

-Where is your most favourite place in the world?

I’m a sucker for a bit of sunshine. 

-What are some of your interests and hobbies?

I love learning/speaking different languages, eating good food with good friends, listening to music that suits my mood and oh, boys, of course.

-If you were down to your last $10, what would you buy?

Well I was in that situation last week actually! …. I bought some rice, tinned tuna, pitta bread, cigarettes and wine.  Haha… just enough to keep me going until payday. J

-Any favourite fashion purchases?

Probably my wooly Jaeger cardigan.  I found it in a charity shop in South London – it was in mint condition and only cost me £4.  Amazing!

-What would you never wear?

Pvc…At least, not in public.

-What can't you live without?

Mackerel fillets and aloe vera Vaseline.

-What can you not leave the house without?

A book in my bag, my keys in my hand and my underwear on!

-Tell us about what your current ventures are and what you are anticipating to do in the near future.

Well I just finished shooting the ad campaign for Martin Miller’s new gin.  It was a lot of fun and we got to sample the gin! Yummy.

Coming up, I’m doing a shoot for the new Ford KA and then I’m off to Lithuania in August for a show.

-Who are your "Iconic" style icons?

Annie Hall.  Most definitely.  She’s the central character from a Woody Allen movie.  It’s fantastic and she is just incredible.  I love the way she dresses, in ties, waistcots, tailored mens trousers and bowler hats.  She rocks.

-If you could be someone for 24 hours, who would you want to be and why?

I would definitely want to be any of the people who get o see Omahyra Mota naked.  Whether it’s a stylist, lover, designer or doctor – they’re all ridiculously privileged.  The girl is phenomenal!

-What inspired you to work in fashion?

Many things inspired me to work in fashion, it mainly came down to being young and not knowing what path to take in life, there are so many roads for the youth of today to follow, in the end I decided to follow something I loved, from a young age I had been around fashion with my nan having an underwear label so i suppose it was the natural progression of my life.

I think the main thing now that inspires me with the label, is being able to take anything out of life, and use it to create a collection that people want to wear, that's where the inspiration comes from, seeing people in your garments and adding to there story.

-What are your favourite looks this season?

My favourite looks of the season, for the summer of 2008, have been Acne's Jeans collection, taking blazers, with light weight cotton and denim shirts, and mixing them with shorts, together the whole look just works, but you don't see it enough on the streets, I suppose these type of looks take a while to become mainstream and in terms of mixing blazers and shirts with shorts, especially denim shorts, is a hard look to pull of, both physically and mentally.

-Where is your most favourite place in the world?

Good question, in terms of somewhere I have been that I could see myself living and working for a while, then it would have to be Stockholm. There is something inside stockholm that releases a certain energy and inspiration from my body that i have yet to find anywhere else, maybe I'd mix the life of stockholm with trips to the beaches of Mauritius, as for me, its the closest to paradise I have ever been.

-What are some of your interests and hobbies?

Hobbies and interest for me change all the time, I suppose it depends where you are at that stage of your life, I'm big on wacthing films for inspiration while drinking tea, and I tend to play as much sport as I can to keep me healthy, im just about to start learning the guitar as there is something about the sound of the acoustic and electric guitar when played well that gives me all the inspiration I need to get that last ounce of energy out.

-If you were down to your last $10, what would you buy?

Hmmm, I'd buy some red wine, a copy of Bowie's Greatest Hits and some ice cream.

-Any favourite fashion purchases?

The best fashion purchase i have ever made has to be a trench coat by Balenciaga, from their  Autumn/Winter collection three years ago. It was in the store I was working at at the time, and was priced way out of my range, I was working part time and every day I used to work I would try it on and imagine it being mine, time went on, and it was still there when sale time came, I managed to get it for a quarter of the price, and I still wear it and look after it till this day, it is one piece of clothing that I have recieved compliments every time i have worn it, I can justify paying alot of money for items of clothing you know your going to have for many a year, and everytime I wear it it seems to give me a sense of knowing were I'm going. That one coat inspires the sort of clothing I hope to create in years to come.

-What would you never wear?

I suppose I couldn't rule out wearing anything specifically, in terms of a piece of clothing, but there are certain items you put on and you don't feel confident in, i suppose, when i get that feeling, I tend to leave them well alone.

-What can't you live without?

The sun, red wine, good fashion publications, my mother, lostboycollections, and ambition.

-What can you not leave the house without?

My mobile phone.

-Tell us about what you are currently designing and the inspiration behind the products.

Well we are currently just about to start working on the new Spring/Summer 09 pieces, I've decided to work with someone on this collection which has been a big decision, but one that im really excited about as we have a very similar vision when it comes to designing, so i think we are going to see alot of mixed colours, the collection is going to be very unisex, working under the term ''whats his, is hers'' within reason, there will be sole pieces for the ladies and for the men, but alot of the pieces will be able to be picked up and worn by both, so loose cuts and low lying neck lines.

-Who are your "Iconic" style icons?

Style icons for me would be James Dean, Jude Law, im really liking David De Rothschild and Mark Ronson too right now, there are alot of styles out there, but these boys, especially dean, inspire me alot.

-Any last anecdotes/jokes/comments:

www.lostboycollections.com you know you want to....

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 - What inspired you to work in fashion?

I had a love and appreciation of beautiful things. I have always had a creative side to me, yet a thirst for business. Fashion is always evolving and inspiring and it is an industry I felt I could make a difference in. It is empowering to influence the way women dress and furthermore give confidence.

- What are your favourite looks this season?

Juxtaposition. Let your feminine sleeves float free from your sharp cropped jacket and contrast heavy winter fabrics like tweed with whisper fine silks.

- What are some of your interests and hobbies?

My interests are the visual arts, helping people and making other people put their dreams into motion, spending time with people I love, finding treasures, styling and going for long walks with my friends.As my work life is so fast paced, in my spare time I enjoy the simple things in life and spending time with those I love.

- What are your 'must-have' products of the season?

A cashmere knit, cigarette pants, black lame leggings, pussy bow blouses and detailed dresses.

- Any favourite purchases?

Bowie makes amazing men's cashmere pullovers that have unisex appeal.

- What is one sentence you would use to sum up with the Le Black Book brand is about?

Le Black Book is all about attention to detail and luxury shopping experiences.

- If you could be someone for 24 hours, who would you want to be and why?

Patricia Field, as she is such an inspirational character and has amazing couture, designer bags and designer heels in her work room  all day.

- What would you never wear?

Anything that is a size too small, ugg boots in public and bare legs in winter.

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Visit www.leblackbook.com.au for exclusive online designer fashion.