Kim and Carl do it in style...Wedding Gown

i get VERY EXCITED, often goosebumps too, when i finally get to see my clients' wedding photos- it's a real warm, fuzzy feeling of achievement, a reward for all the hard work and long hours my team and i spend creating a Couture wedding gown, and a beautiful & happy ending to a friendship made between the bride and all of us here at Culture Shock... it's also often the first time i get to see the lucky bloke they end up marrying, too!


So let me introduce you to Kim and Carl, who celebrated their wedding earlier this year in Sydney, beautifully photographed by Guy Lerner at Guy Lerner Photography... http://laqtres-theelegantweddinggown.blogspot.com/
We created Kim's fabulous 2-piece Culture Shock Couture wedding gown from a fabulous vintage kimono we sourced together online ( a great way to go kimono shopping without leaving your keyboard!). Being a beautifully pale-skinned bride who wasn't into the often unflattering "white wedding look", the rich bold effect of black silk spliced together with the fab red/white kimono worked wonderfully against the industrial backdrop of their harbourside pier location. AND we're sure that Kim will be able to wear her fabulous wedding frock again and again... Just goes to show that breaking with bridal tradition can look amazing, and be so much fun to wear, too !!!

Hairstyles In 2010, Try Something Different

Hairstyles In 2010, Try Something Different!

If you want to see some great hairstyles that add a little spunk to your life, there are plenty of examples of celebrities wearing them today.

Take a look at Halle Berry in her pixie hair cut; she has a beautiful glow about her that accentuates her eyes and high cheekbones. It gives her an innocent and sassy look that adds spunk to her image.

Another celebrity that has pushed the envelope in fashion this year is Pink. Her platinum blonde fringe hairstyle that she is wearing for her Funhouse tour adds a sexy element to her explosion of fun image for the tour. She has really made a gorgeous look work in some spunk as well.
Adam Lambert Emo Like Hairstyle

On the men’s side, take a look at Adam Lambert from American Idol, he has taken the Emo look and added his own spunk. He is a great singer, but he has also made the Emo look much more popular this year. The use of his bangs and shorter cropped sides is a perfect example of the innovative way that stylists are using bangs this season. He is clearly a spunky fashion icon this year. And this style will be carried into 2010 for sure!

And who can forget the looks of Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner in the Twilight series movies. They have added spunk to the vampire scene without question! And they have inspired a generation of teens to follow their high-fashion images! Pushed up spikes that make them look like flame-topped perfection for the ladies has made these stars the most sought after look this season.
Photos/PR PHOTOS

Hairstyles In 2010, Try Something Different

Hairstyles In 2010, Try Something Different!

If you want to see some great hairstyles that add a little spunk to your life, there are plenty of examples of celebrities wearing them today.

Take a look at Halle Berry in her pixie hair cut; she has a beautiful glow about her that accentuates her eyes and high cheekbones. It gives her an innocent and sassy look that adds spunk to her image.

Another celebrity that has pushed the envelope in fashion this year is Pink. Her platinum blonde fringe hairstyle that she is wearing for her Funhouse tour adds a sexy element to her explosion of fun image for the tour. She has really made a gorgeous look work in some spunk as well.
Adam Lambert Emo Like Hairstyle

On the men’s side, take a look at Adam Lambert from American Idol, he has taken the Emo look and added his own spunk. He is a great singer, but he has also made the Emo look much more popular this year. The use of his bangs and shorter cropped sides is a perfect example of the innovative way that stylists are using bangs this season. He is clearly a spunky fashion icon this year. And this style will be carried into 2010 for sure!

And who can forget the looks of Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner in the Twilight series movies. They have added spunk to the vampire scene without question! And they have inspired a generation of teens to follow their high-fashion images! Pushed up spikes that make them look like flame-topped perfection for the ladies has made these stars the most sought after look this season.
Photos/PR PHOTOS

24 hours in Melbourne...

Isn't it FAB how interstate travel has become so quick, easy, cheap and accessible??!!

i have just spent the last 24 hours in Melbourne, and it's amazing how much you can do in just 24 hours, believe me! i had 2 glorious art exhibitions to visit, and lots of fabric sourcing/shopping to do for my new wedding gown designs, so with a combo of fast-paced walking, planes/ trains/ trams and friendly yellow cabs, it was a breeze!

After visiting my favourite kimono and Japanese textile collectors, and a few silk fabric suppliers, i sped over to the GORGEOUS Art Deco Exhibition at the NGV in St Kilda Rd, and fell in love with EVERYTHING!!! Amazing collections of jewellery, furniture, music, film, objects d'art and of course FASHION, the highlight for me was naturally absolutely breathtaking Couture gowns from the 1920's and 30's, by such luminary designers as Coco Chanel, Lanvin, Poiret and many more... definitely worth the trip, it's on until 5th October - see website http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/artdeco

Then last night i had the pleasure of attending my friend and fellow collaborator Stan Yarramunua's official opening of his stunning Aboriginal art exhibition, in the foyer of the prestigious 101 Collins St building. Yarramunua's collection of paintings are a refreshing, colourful and modern take on the traditional Indigenous dot painting, and his use of "totems" such as the sea turtle and the goanna, mixed with his main theme of water, are spectacular.

Also in attendance was the beautiful Caroline Pemberton, who modelled a glamorous silk Couture gown that i designed & made for her to wear at the 2007 Miss World contest in China, where she proudly represented Australia (see gown in photo's here). Her fishtail-shaped, personally fitted and sharply tailored Culture Shock creation was hand-painted by Yarramunua, and last night it looked just AWESOME on Caroline as she mingled amongst all Yarra's paintings... You can only imagine how it must have stood out to the other Miss World contestants last year when they were on the world stage- so uniquely Australian, and yet so chic and so sexy, too! This one-off Culture Shock showpiece will remain on show with Yarramunua's exhibition til the end of this week, so if you're in Melb, do drop by for a look.

WOW - what a trip! i ADORE Melbourne and always feel sad to leave so soon - it's such a pleasure to visit a vibrant, culturally diverse and happening city that makes everything so easy for it's guests... i will be back very soon, Melbourne, so don't go changin'!!! xxx

Short Hair Envy pt 2

How about this look?

The Traditional Corsetry-Style Gowns

I've noticed so many more brides these days wanting "lighter" wedding gowns... made from fabrics that are lighter in weight, styling that's softer and more flowing than The Traditional Corsetry-Style Gowns, less restrictive construction, and of course - more COMFY!

I guess this need for wedding dresses that don't weigh more than the bride who wears them is due to several reasons:-

a)- Global warming! Who wants to be hot 'n' sweaty on their big day under multiple layers of thich, heavy fabric?

b)- "Bridget Jones" undies - whether we like them or not, the Nancy Ganz-type of super-stretchy shapewear and control lingerie (aka- "foundation lingerie") out on the market these days REALLY WORKS! So it now enables brides to rely less on corsetry in a wedding gown, and gives women the choice of having lighter-weight gowns and much more comfort in the lingerie dept, whilst still getting a great silhouette, flat tummy and nipped-in waist.

c)- Beautiful, soft, flowing gowns using sheer fabrics look SOOOOO romantic, whimsical, elegant and classic... the ethereal "Grecian Goddess" inspired look is definitely here to stay, as seen at every glamorous Awards ceremony this year... and you DON'T have to be a size 6 to rock this look!

I recently did a fabulous photo shoot to showcase my Grecian-inspired Couture bridal gowns... & as you can see, we created some beautiful looks on the day! Big thanks to the super-talented team that worked hard to create these images with me on a Sunday afternoon- Dario Gardiman the photographer, Simone and Claire the fab make-up artists, Jack the hair stylist and our gorgeous models Alicia and Zara - stay tuned as these images (and more) will shortly be appearing in more detail on my website, too!

ciao, xx lisa

White Ribbon Charity Fashion Parade of Wedding Gown

It was such a pleasure to be invited to show my gowns at the "White Ribbon Charity Fashion Parade of Wedding Gown" at the funky DOME venue in Surry Hills, Sydney, last week. There were loads of exciting local designers showcasing their work, some up-and-coming, and others more established, and the level of enthusiasm, excitement and energy on the night was AWESOME!

Organiser Sharon Garrard did an amazing job, co-ordinating and managing the whole event, and raising much needed funds AND awareness for this worthy charity, to help prevent domestic violence against women. The place was packed full of fun-loving fashionista's, and the parade ended on a high note with an Opera singer performing her aria as the Culture Shock Couture models glided down the catwalk for the grand finale - oooohhhhh, what a wonderful sight!

At the risk of sounding like a complete tosser - i felt very proud of my team, our work, the fabulous models, hair and make-up crew, and the great feedback we received on the night - so a veryheartfelt THANK YOU to all involved!!!

And a very special merci beaucoup to the talented photography team at ModalSoul Photo, who captured these brilliant Culture Shock pics on the runway.... one word, guys - W O W !!

xx lisa