Ink & Leathers

Fashfest 2017 Tickets On Sale

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I am so thrilled to announce that tickets for Fashfest 2017 – Canberra’s largest annual red-carpet event – are now on sale through www.fashfest.com.au. Fashfest 2017 will be held from 28 to 30 September, promising us three nights and six distinct shows of total fashion experience.

The 2017 programme showcases the work of more than 40 fashion designers—local, national and international—some putting on their own collections and some forming group shows. The event will be supported by fifteen live musical and DJ acts, bringing the designer collections to life.

Tickets start from $49. VIP and Platinum ‘experience’ include exclusive, guided backstage tours. Discounts available for two show packages and bookings of six tickets. Fashfest will be held at the National Convention Centre Canberra. The first show on each night starts at 7pm and the second at 9. (more…)

Aruveyda, Wellness and Aveda: An Interview with Sita Chan

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Aruveyda, beauty, wellness and Aveda – an inspired and engaging morning at the Canberra Centre’s beauty and wellness precinct with Sita Chan’s masterclass.


Sita Chan recently presented a fantastic masterclass at the Canberra Centre, and I was so impressed and inspired that I had to share the experience here on the Blog.

The Canberra Centre excels at bringing fantastic new opportunities to Canberrans through these masterclasses, providing experts to share their knowledge and help us to redefine our understanding of beauty and wellness. Not to mention the host of exciting new retail outlets in their new beauty and wellness precinct. One such opportunity today’s masterclass with the lovely Sita Chan, where Canberra Centre and Aveda guests got to learn all about Ayurveda, and finding balance in our everyday lives.

Sita is an Ayurveda lifestyle counsellor, Aveda educator and yoga instructor based out of Hong Kong. For those who may not know what Ayurveda is, it is a 5,000 year old “science of life,” aimed to prevent and heal disease or imbalances within the body. The masterclass today will reveal the healing powers behind the ancient Ayurvedic philosophy that combines yoga, massage, acupuncture and herbal medicine for a better mind, body, spirit connection. She will also guide your dosha for health and wellbeing balance. (more…)

Fresh Cut – The Barber Shop at QT keeping me tidy this Beard Season

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Looking particularly scruffy before heading into The Barber Shop – untidy, untrimmed and unkempt all spring to mind.

 

Earlier this year I was lucky enough to attend a men’s grooming and whiskey event at QT Canberra with the fantastically beard-y Jimmy Niggles, founder of Beard Season.

This was actually my second time meeting with Niggles, as I previously met him at QT in 2016. At the time I promised that in the spirit of beard season I would make an appointment to get a full skin cancer check. Well, 12 months and several sun-exposure incidents later, and I was faced with the embarrassing task of explain to Jimmy that I had not actually kept the promise I made him. It is strange to have to admit something like that to a near stranger, but in part that is the brilliance of Beard Season – I was embarrassed at having not got my skin cancer check, and so I resolved to get one.

In fact, I promised not only to go and get the check, but to also take part in Beard Season 2017 by attempting to grow my own beard. (more…)

Beauty Redefined – Canberra Centre Launches Beauty and Wellness Precinct

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A weekend-long launch for the Canberra Centre brings beauty and wellness to the revitalised Monaro Mall precinct.

 

Over the past weekend the Canberra Centre opened the doors of the newly refurbished Monaro Mall to unveil a world-class beauty and wellness precinct to scores of eager shoppers, with a series of masterclasses and a litany of opening-specials.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to attend the opening festivities, and so on Thursday morning when my alarm went off at the ungodly hour of 5:00am; sleep-muddled and more than a little cranky I rolled out of my warm bed in order to get myself to there.

At 32 years of age, there isn’t actually a lot that I will get myself out of bed this early for anymore.

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Autumn Inspirations – JORD Wood Watches

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There is something about the season of Autumn that just makes me want to immerse myself in nature.

Now, obviously just from looking at me you can tell I’m not exactly the rugged woodsman you probably think of when you hear something like “Autumn makes me want to immerse myself in nature”, but I really do love this season, and all the treats for the senses that it brings with it. The cold bite of the wind on my cheeks, the smell of wood smoke in the air, and the visual spectacle of the leaves bursting into brilliant colours before dropping to the ground. And then of course we have all the different wardrobe tune-ups that we make for the cooler seasons.

This autumn I have been lucky enough to be given a beautiful wooden watch from the babes at JORD wood watches, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The design of the unique watch makes it a perfect addition to my wardrobe for autumn and winter, and gives me all the feelings of immersing myself in nature without actually having to go outside.

Because yes, I am that prissy that I avoid going outside as much as possible. (more…)

Daily Style – Fashion and Architecture

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Canberra menswear and style blogger Grant Heino of Ink and Leathers blog at New Acton

 

Fashion and architecture tend to go hand in hand in my opinion. The more I think about fashion and style, the more I come to recognise how we are all constantly drawing inspiration from the architecture of the built world that surrounds us, such as finding new ways to pair old wardrobe favourites like a white t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans.

Perhaps one of the most iconic fashion combinations of all time, it has almost become an algorithm of how to dress yourself that is recognised in a way that transcends culture. Blue jeans + white t-shirt + (accessories / season) = dressed. It really is that simple, that mathematical. I have just about made this the formula for what I put on my back on a daily basis, and yet some how it still takes me over an hour to get ready most mornings. Usually including an embarrassing amount of time staring forlornly at my wardrobe wondering what i should wear.   (more…)

Viktor & Rolf – An uncomfortable morning with Fashion Artists

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Viktor & Rolf jute and lace dress from the Russian Doll collection - Melbourne, Australia

 

Viktor & Rolf, the Dutch design duo behind some of the most elaborate and awe-inspiring couture pieces of our time, currently have a retrospective of their 25-year collaboration hosted at the National Gallery of Victoria. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? I mean, by now every Australian fashion blogger and their dog have commented or reported on the exhibition. Most of my go-to fashionistas had already been, seen and posted about the exhibition before I got the chance to go this weekend past, and so I had a pretty good idea of what I was in for.

What I didn’t anticipate, however, was just how much I wouldn’t enjoy the exhibition.

Now don’t get me wrong, there is no debating that the creations are breathtaking in their vision and construction. The genius of the design duo cannot be understated, and the way in which the garments are pieced together shows a real mastery of craftsmanship. I cracked a huge smile seeing the red carpet gown in person (a beautifully sculptural piece crafted from actual carpet), and I was honestly moved seeing pieces in person that I had viewed in magazines and being able to dissect them with my own eyes rather than through someone else’s lens.

However, as someone now in his thirty-first year on this planet, and as someone who is (reluctantly) being drawn into the minimalism movement, I had to stop and ask myself what the cost of these garments (and more over the cost of couture generally) actually is. (more…)

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