Heatwave

May 25, 2017 by Jasmine Edwards

In memory of:

The heatwave New York experienced last week (short-lived, but glorious)...

And of Summer in Sydney, where most days are spent by the beach, in and out of the water, with friends and family like Lois Vega (the total babe featured here with me) and Elaine Kwok (the beauty behind the camera lens), who turned up at the beach this particular afternoon, camera in one hand, with the other hand ushering me into the water for an impromptu photo shoot.

Here's to heatwaves. May New York experience one again VERY SOON. In the meantime, I'll just hide indoors from the rain (it's literally storming as I type) with a glass of Beaujolais, binge-watching Friends for the millionth time whilst looking over these photos (yes, the water really is that blue. And yes, I really was that tanned). Oh, Summer. Come back to me. <3

“All in all, it was a never to be forgotten summer — one of those summers which come seldom into any life, but leave a rich heritage of beautiful memories in their going — one of those summers which, in a fortunate combination of delightful weather, delightful friends and delightful doing, come as near to perfection as anything can come in this world.”

— L.M. Montgomery, Anne's House of Dreams

“Summer is the time when one sheds one’s tensions with one’s clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all’s right with the world.”

— Ada Louise Huxtable

Photography & Edits by Elaine Kwok (teawithnostalgia.com)

Wearing: Somedays Lovin' Bikini, Urban Outfitters Sunglasses, Subtitled Shorts, Topman Hat

“Lingerie is my next love after clothing; I think it is what is worn underneath that really inspires a woman to feel beautiful in her clothes - that inner, secret glamour.”

— Alice Temperley

Finding Rosie

March 31, 2017 by Jasmine Edwards

Wearing: Showstopper Teddy by Flora Nikrooz. Holding: A Bouquet I made =) — Wearing: **Showstopper Teddy** by Flora Nikrooz. Holding: A Bouquet I made =)

I received this beautiful lingerie from Finding Rosie a while ago now, and I thought it would be sweet to photograph it on my Instax Mini 8 camera, considering the romantic colour palette and vintage look of the pieces. However, let's just say that I'm not exactly a "modernist" (which certainly explains my love for old film style photography!) which is fine, except for the fact that I am basically technologically illiterate... so I found myself running around Brooklyn for a week in search of a good scanner (I tried three different places -- too blurry, too dark, too low res, Internet Cafe manager too creepy, etc) and I eventually ended up just photographing them on my canon and cropping and editing them on my phone...!

Wearing: Showstopper Teddy by Flora Nikrooz, Flower Crown from Forever 21, Satin Kimono from Hong Kong Markets — Wearing: **Showstopper Teddy** by Flora Nikrooz, **Flower Crown** from Forever 21, Satin Kimono from Hong Kong Markets

The Red "Showstopper" Teddy I'm wearing here is by Flora Nikrooz and it certainly lives up to its name! It is so cute worn as both lingerie and pyjamas. I don't usually opt for red when choosing clothing, but coupled with the mesh, ruffles and floral detail, I couldn't imagine it in any other colour, and it was too beautiful and romantic to pass over.

Wearing: Ever Yours Slip by Mimi Holliday, Forever 21 Beaded, Velvet Choker — Wearing: **Ever Yours Slip** by Mimi Holliday, Forever 21 **Beaded, Velvet Choker**

Wearing: Showstopper Teddy by Flora Nikrooz, Shirt by Zara — Wearing: **Showstopper Teddy** by Flora Nikrooz, Shirt by **Zara**

Wearing: Ever Yours Slip by Mimi Holliday, Flower Crown from Forever 21 — Wearing: **Ever Yours Slip** by Mimi Holliday, **Flower Crown** from Forever 21

Wearing: Ever Yours Slip by Mimi Holliday, Flower Crown from Forever 21, Resourced Vintage Kimono by Urban Renewal — Wearing: **Ever Yours Slip** by Mimi Holliday, **Flower Crown** from Forever 21, Resourced Vintage Kimono by **Urban Renewal**

The second piece I chose is the "Ever Yours" Slip in peach by Mimi Holliday. I love slips because of their versatility. They can be worn as pyjamas, lingerie, an undergarment or in some cases, a dress. I often wear a slip under my more sheer vintage dresses. This one is a beautiful, pale peach-pink colour and I love the lace at the bust and hem.

Wearing: Ever Yours Slip by Mimi Holliday,, Vintage Coat — Wearing: **Ever Yours Slip** by Mimi Holliday,, Vintage Coat

I love that Finding Rosie only stocks a carefully curated collection of labels on their site (www.findingrosie.com -- and you can find them on Instagram here), because honestly, scrolling through pages of bras can be pretty overwhelming and everything they choose is gorgeous, so the work is done for you. I've discovered new favourites like Mimi Holliday and Flora Nikrooz (check out their Instagrams here and here, and they also stock one of my favourite lingerie labels, Lonely lingerie from New Zealand.

LUNA PARK

March 25, 2017 by Jasmine Edwards

nos·tal·gia (noun):

"A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations."

Luna Park, located in Milson's Point on the north shore of Sydney Harbour, is an amusement park that first opened in 1935. With its terrifying entrance (a grinning, kitsch clown face) and its old-fashioned rides, a trip to the park is certain to reignite childhood memories for most Sydney-siders. While the Rotor (essentially a large, upright, spinning barrel) is probably the most popular ride, I prefer the grandma-like pace (and views!) of the Ferris Wheel.

My friend Lois (who would ordinarily abandon me in favour of all the sickening rides she could possibly manage) took these photos, did my makeup and helped style. We share a love for all things nostalgic, which means we almost never disagree when styling a shoot.

In Luna Park, we attempted to recreate a bygone era -- one of small, simple pleasures: long summers, homemade clothes and childhood birthday parties, and first dates -- all of the things that we imagine might go with a "trip to the fair".

It's always nice when you're genuinely excited about the prop food, isn't it?

It's amazing how some bows, a ponytail and pink fairy floss can instantly transport you back to childhood... <3

And of course, no trip to Luna Park is complete without some of my favourite naughty snacks: fairy floss (that's cotton candy for you Americans), hot chips (fries!) and frozen coke.

Two of my lifelong loves: frozen coke and hot chips.

Just day-dreaming about how much I love fairy floss...

La Bella Vita

January 09, 2017 by Jasmine Edwards

"La bella vita"

MEANING:

"The good life" or "The beautiful life".

We live the beautiful life here in Sydney, Australia, and on a recent sunny, Saturday afternoon, my friend Lois (@loisvega -- new website coming soon!) and I forewent the beach for once in order to snap some film photographs of the lovely Bella, blogger and model extraordinaire (shebethesound.com) at her home in Maroubra.

Mostly drawing from my own wardrobe (and a few caps borrowed from male relatives), it was lovely to see how some of the feminine pieces I've recently accumulated (as well as my ever-growing hat collection) translated when mixed with Bella's more ecclectic, clean style as well as her exotic looks.

There is something so decadent and at once feminine about dressing up to laze about in one's own home. Whether it be in the confines of a bedroom--sunlight pouring through an open window; the courtyard of a garden; or resting on a borrowed skateboard, watching the sleepy suburban neighbourhood pass you by.

It's a firm belief of mine that the modern woman doesn't have to sacrifice glamour for comfort, or femininity for "cool" factor. We are more adept than ever at throwing together high street and low streets looks, and toughening up or dressing down girlish dresses or bodysuits with a well-chosen shoe or cap. Bella embodies this ability in her own daily style, which is one of the reasons it was such a pleasure to dress her.

I'd been dying to shoot my vintage black dress (picked up at Mirth Vintage, Greenpoint, BK) for ages, and I knew she would look great in it. Meanwhile, Lois was on hand, not only to capture the moment with her film camera, but also to help style - adding a chair here, a piece of jewellery there and toughening up looks such as Bella's beautiful Elle Macpherson lingerie by requesting the addition of a bomber (and some sass).

Wearing: Kimono and Rings, Model's own. Artwork by Leanne Thomas. — Wearing: Kimono and Rings, Model's own. Artwork by **Leanne Thomas**.

Wearing: Garbo Dress by Reformation, Bagatiba Necklace — Wearing: **Garbo Dress by Reformation**, **Bagatiba Necklace**

Wearing: Cap by Calvin Klein, Urban Outfitters Bodysuit, All Saint Sandals, Forever 21 Earrings, Bagatiba Necklace — Wearing: **Cap by Calvin Klein**, **Urban Outfitters Bodysuit**, **All Saint Sandals**, **Forever 21 Earrings**, **Bagatiba Necklace**

Wearing: Cap by Calvin Klein, American Apparel Bodysuit, Forever 21 Earrings, Bagatiba Necklace — Wearing: **Cap by Calvin Klein**, **American Apparel Bodysuit**, **Forever 21 Earrings,** **Bagatiba Necklace**

Wearing: Lolita Hat by Lack of Color Aus, Vintage Dress, Forever 21 Earrings, Bagatiba Necklace — Wearing: **Lolita Hat by Lack of Color Aus**, Vintage Dress, **Forever 21 Earrings**, **Bagatiba Necklace**

Wearing: Vintage Dress, Forever 21 Earrings, Bagatiba Necklace — Wearing: Vintage Dress, **Forever 21 Earrings**, **Bagatiba Necklace**

Wearing: Elle Macpherson Body Breeze Triangle Soft Cup Bra and Breeze Short, Bagatiba Necklace, Model's own jacket — Wearing: Elle Macpherson Body **Breeze Triangle Soft Cup Bra** and **Breeze Short**, **Bagatiba Necklace**, Model's own jacket

Wearing: Urban Outfitters Bodysuit, Forever 21 Earrings, Bagatiba Necklace — Wearing: **Urban Outfitters Bodysuit**, **Forever 21 Earrings**, **Bagatiba Necklace**

Wearing: Lolita Hat by Lack of Color Aus, Bagatiba necklace, All Saints Dress — Wearing: **Lolita Hat by Lack of Color Aus**, **Bagatiba necklace**, **All Saints Dress**

Model: Bella Thomas // Photographer: Lois Vega // Stylist: Jasmine Edwards