Stephanie Sinclair and every one at Style Clinic by Astin Brown Inc wants to shout out - ’Azra’s facial construction surgeries are scheduled to begin July 2′. They have been graciously donated by the French NGO HumaniTerra, but we have still have to raise funds to cover her and her husband’s airfare, housing and expenses for three months in France. Extra money raised will start a fund to help future victims through the same life-saving process.

How we know AZRA….Last year we were in the midst of generating concepts for interesting fun-filled style clinics - girlfriend events about self-discovery. Trend-flicking through a 2005 Marie Claire USA magazine when Tahnya Butterfield came across a face that compelled her to act differently. This catalyst for getting involved in the campaign of ‘Stopping Violence against women’ was a photograph of ‘Azra’ by Stephanie Sinclair taken for a photographic features section entitled ‘What a woman sees.’ The photograph presented an irony – that of a woman draped in a magnificent green hajib which was hiding the devastation of a horrendous act of violence. Arza had had acid thrown on her face by her brother-in-law. He had done so to uphold family honor.

Just in case you haven’t seen Unilever’s Dove ’Beauty Evolution’ mini film. You had better see for yourself what spoils a couple of good stylists, lighting and PhotoShop can offer anyone suffering from beauty myth sorrow. If you have seen it, watch it again - its reassuring to know there is a lot of sprucing going-on. Sadly many of us are chasing the beauty myth, conclusively evident in the magazines and the ad campaigns we buy.

Watch the film

If you are a relic of the 70’s you will have had a sticker collection. Well here are some ideas to give your collection and walls some ‘now’ currency. Here is a sampling of what we are loving at the moment. TrendCentral reports ‘Similar to the wall decal trend we’ve been obsessing over for years, Mozaikit takes the same DIY idea and gives users the chance to decorate almost any surface. Both removable and re-stickable, these vinyl tiles can be used to create colorful mosaics. From laptops to tabletops to the backsplash on your kitchen sink, there’s no limit to what you can DIY.  You can buy on-line’ www.shalgo.com/

If  you can’t do real wall art - go faux all the way with some lux stickers exclusives by Domestic for Le Bon Marche. Or for maximum inspiration look at all the ’sticker wall’ raves and where to buy it lists on thisnext.com .

- wall paper and stickers…mmm. What’s missing to complete the revival indie look? Stay tuned and we’ll show you the latest in Dragster bikes (now called a Cruiser) - you will have every boy in the park your friend - grown up ones too honey!

picture courtesy http://www.antoineetmanuel.com
 

We decided it was time to reveal our stylists and urban scouts and give you a close-up of the talent accumulating market intelligence or facilitating our style & trend clinics, bespoke shopping & dynamite shopping tours. We are very disserning about the global talent we accumulate, it’s now time to celebrate their greatness. From all over the world we have great stories to tell.

This month we climb inside the handbag of Sydney’s beautiful Nicola Hancock-Thompson.

1. What 1 thing do you have in your wardrobe that has sustained the fashion evolution?

Black Gucci fine stacked wooden heel stretch fabric ankle boots.  Purchased 5 years ago on sale in the Sydney Gucci Boutique - $aud450.00.  They still look like I purchased them yesterday and the pointed toe and stacked wooden heel has never dated.  I love them with jeans or long wide leg pants – and they are dam comfortable!!!  

2. What’s one (1) thing you can’t live without?

 I love Bonds underwear!! – Oh and my husband! (we don’t have a picture of him to link you to)

3. What’s your best career moment?

I have a moment that lasted 5 years with Collette Dinnigan (Nicola is ex-boutique/wholesale headhoncho for this masthead of Australian Couture).  She is an inspirational woman and gave me the most amazing opportunities.

4. Five (5) things on your shopping wish list? Diamond Tennis Bracelet (might have to wait a while for that), 1960s Mercedes Benz 250SL convertible (might be waiting for that also), Hermes Leather passport holder, Chloe tan leather boots, Phillip Lim 3.1 dress – love his stuff!

5. Your ‘top tip’ (shopping or dressing or both).

 Know when to put the $$$.  Not everything has to be designer labels and prices – the key is to know where and when to invest in great pieces and to know that something’s can be cheaper.  It is the understanding of how to constantly change and up date your classics with seasonal “trend” pieces. 

6. Your biggest fashion mistake?

The outfit I made my mother make me for Mufti Day (day when you do not wear your uniform at school) when I was in about form 4 (14 years old). Red Bat wing cardigan and matching red Tube skirt – just so wrong, I hid behind the typing classroom all day. In my minds eye I was going to just look fantastic – but in reality I felt really stupid. 

7. Five (5) of your favourite stores / places to shop.

 Collette Dinnigan, Zara, La Bon Marche – (shoe and bag department), New Zealand (for anything BLACK!), Pelle – William st Paddington for recycled vintage accessories.
8. We know that what you do feels like a hobby and not at all like work. So what is it you do when you are not shopping? 

Aside from my addiction to good coffee and fashion magazines – don’t you just relish sitting down to open the latest edition of vogue with a good coffee!!!!  Just spending time with my husband, and dog.  Having great dinners and evenings out with good friends, I just enjoy making the most of our local Paddington neighborhood.

Design trends from the show
Plus: Urban Outfitters, Inc. getting into gardening

We checked out this week’s 19th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair where we found some cool trends we imagine we might be seeing in hip living rooms of the future:

Modern Nature:
Botanist’s sleek aluminum benches applied with real wood veneer can be used both indoors and out, while Japanese company Monacca showed saucer shaped wood “throw pillows” that, despite the hard surface, promised a soft landing.

orange22.com/
monacca.com/
Wood Carvings:
Representing larger design trends of ornate decoration and unconventional wall hangings, wood carvings were plentiful. We especially loved Deborah Mills’ “Medieval Frieze” and Brooklyn-based children’s design brand Oeuf’s bird- and tree-shaped wood panels that we imagine could become a popular alternative for parents wanting more sophisticated bedrooms for their little ones.

http://deborahmillswoodcarving.com/AalPortalProject.html

http://www.deborahmillswoodcarving.com/
Deborah Bowness Wallpaper:
The wallpaper trend continues to grow, with this UK designer continuing to create some of our favorite panels. Handprinting wallpaper for the past seven years, Bowness uses vintage-style photos of shoes, dresses, books, phones, etc. She has already designed wallpaper for places such as Soho House (New York and London), Reebok store (London), and Paul Smith store (London).

deborahbowness.com/
Hulger Handsets:
Talking on your cell phone is a whole lot more stylish with Hulger’s retro-styled handsets. We particularly like the Penelope * Phone and imagine it will be a hit with VoIP devotees.

hulger.org/
And by the way:
Urban Outfitters Inc. is planning to launch a new brand concept in 2008. In what sounds like a smart execution of the urban gardening trend, merchandise will reportedly consist of lifestyle home and garden products, antiques, and live flowers and plants.
 

This feed and pictures provided by our Trendcentral friends