Anon. Women - Josephine Hamilton

My Mum recently turned 50 and this is a tribute to her.

To celebrate she jumped out of a plane, diving into a new chapter of her life with the same, joy, passion and excitement she has every previous one.

Anon. Women was started as a label to celebrate women like my Mum - women with life, personality, passion and style.

She has always had an effortlessness and ease about the way she dresses, reflecting really her general approach to life. She gets dressed in the morning with little fuss, throwing whatever on and approaching the day with confidence and joy, the best recipe in my books for great style.

At 50 I think she is still looking great so to my Mum - Happy Birthday!

The New LBD

The LBD has long been considered a staple for every womans wardrobe, how about instead of the little black dress you try a little (navy) blue dress. This is a great example; a simple crew neck, slight cap sleeve and cut to hold the body where it needs to be held and forgiving what needs to be forgiven. Wear it belted or loose. Layer over a jersey long sleeve dress with opaques for winter; throw over slouchy boyfriend blazer or a simple cardgan for work; a sharp tux jacket and some statement jewels and a pair of killer heels and you are set for a night out.

So next time you reach for your favourite LBD make it this blue one from anon. women.

Luxuriously Layered

Fine layers in natural fibers like silk - which is a great natural insulator - is a great way to stay warm without adding too much bulk.

Start with a silk jersey crew neck long sleeve top, against your chest this will keep your body warm, layer over a silk basic top, wear with wool pants and a great little jacket, a scarf around your neck will keep you nice and toasty.

Playing with different shades and textures of the one colour - here we use navy - make a really sophisticated statement while avoiding being too 'matchy matchy'

Cloth Dripping

A single piece of cloth is wrapped and draped around the body, it holds and caresses, smooths and flows, a waterfall sweeps down the back. The simple geometry of a length of fabric becomes dynamic as it is allowed to drip, to drape and interact with the wearer.

Favorite Things - Inside the Square

I am constantly inspired by certain designers, artists and objects. I tend to be drawn to the clean lines and honest simplicity of 20th Century modernism. I think my work reflects this tendency - the concentration on the form, fit and finish of clothes rather than on their decoration and embellishment.

Anon. Women - Icons: Lauren Hutton

At 65 Lauren Hutton is still breath takingly beautiful. This gap - toothed beauty shot to fame as a model in the 60's and 70's championed by iconic Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, she became the first model to score a million dollar cosmetics campaign. I love her effortlessness, her ease in her own skin (in a recent piece in London's the Telegraph fashion editor Hillary Alexander writes a tribute to Huttons embracing of wrinkles!) and her chic take on classic American sportswear.

Get the look with a simple silk Trench Dress, a great tote and a pair of flats - chic, effortless and easy.

1 Dress 3 Ways - Pea-Coat Dress

Value and versatility are two key ideals I keep hearing from women in regards to what they expect from clothes these days. They expect bang for their buck, clothes really need to work for them, from work days to weekends; day to night. This silk Pea-Coat Dress is a great example of this. Wear it as a dress, cinched in with a belt or sash for work; make it casual on the weekends by knotting it at the wait worn over a great jersey top and pants; and open over a jersey dress for cocktails.

Have a play and see what else this dress can do for you!

Cocooned

I woke up this morning to a fog covered city, the cold creeping in all around, I want to be wrapped in a blanket, cocooned and caressed. If you want the same feeling of comfort but with a healthy dose of style this is the perfect coat for you. Cut in a wool and cashmere coating, the shape softly envelops the wearer. Be cocooned this winter!

MasterChef Master Style

My current T.V. obsession is the channel 10 show, MasterChef. I love food and cooking and am addicted to this show, so have been so excited to have been able to dress the host Sarah Wilson. First up we dressed her in a bronze silk one shouldered draped dress for this years Logies. Last week she wore our rosewood silk cowl dress. Sarah is such a great example of the type of woman I love to dress - she is intelligent and articulate with great personal style and confidence.

Make sure you tune in to channel 10 7pm weeknights and watch out for more appearances of Anon. Women.

UPDATE:
Sarah wore our navy silk wrap dress on the wedding episode, she looked great!

Reverberations of Rothko

I really love the energy and feeling of Rothko's work. I love that the colours almost vibrate on the canvas in a seductive dance.

For fall I was wanting to capture the essence of twilight, the way colours and shapes shift and merge. This painting had to me something of that sense about it.

Feeling Fall

I love fall!

The drop in temperature; the golden blanket of falling leaves; the softened light of day; the desire to be cocooned and comforted.

Updates

I have to apologise for my delayed absence from the blog. I have had a hectic couple of months, doing fashion week, taking delivery of the new Autumn/ Winter collection, appointments with agents to take over sales and distribution of the collection and now back in Melbourne working on the collection for next Winter . . .phew!

Its a busy time but all is going really well, we had a great response to the collection we showed in Sydney - I have posted some of the reviews previously. Look out in the coming weeks and months to see it coming out in various magazines - I will keep you posted as details come to hand. We were also lucky enough to dress the gorgeous Sarah Wilson - host of master chef - for the Logies, she looked fantastic in a tarnished bronze one shouldered draped silk dress. Stay tuned to Masterchef (my current TV obession) to see Sarah wearing Anon. Women in upcoming episodes as well.

And now for winter....

Anon. Women ss09 preview

I have just returned from sydney where I presented my new Spring Summer '09 collection at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Despite power failures, the show went on to a great reception.

Here are some of the reviews:

http://www.femail.com.au/anon-women.htm
http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/b/famous/23870/famousanon-and-illionaire
http://fashionistas-littleblackbook.blogspot.com/2009/04/anon-women-fashion-show.html
http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/b/marie-claire/7826/natural-beauty-at-ben-smith/
www.canvasmagazine.net

thanks to Jeremy Stewart for the animated look book: http://www.myspace.com/jeremystewartmotionwork

INVITE

Things have been a bit hectic here of late - hence the lack of blog activity. We are in the count down to Fashion Week. Under two weeks to go now......

The collection is looking amazing and I am so excited to announce that we will be holding our show at the MCA: Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney - perfectly positioned on beautiful Sydney Harbor at Circular Quay!

Above is the invitation... I can't wait!

Anon. Women - Dr Patricia Wong

Dr. Patricia Wong is a G.P. in Mackay who we had the chance to dress during our recent trunk shows there. This look here is simple, chic and professional, perfect for a day at the surgery and dinner after. I am sure this injection of style is just what the doctor ordered.

Cardi Chic

The perfect trans-seasonal addition to your wardrobe. This cardi dress is chic and versatile. The 3/4 sleeve gives the right amount of decorum and that bit of extra cover as the season cools down. Wear it as a dress or top or layer it as a coat.

Absolute Audrey

Channel your inner icon with this great dress. Our circular shirt dress available in silk and waxed cotton (shown here in putty waxed cotton) is perfect for creating your very own movie moment.

Wear it as a dress, belted with flat sandals and a simple tote and you can be riding around on a Vespa in your own Roman Holiday.

Leave it loose teamed with ballet flats, maybe a pair of cropped tights and a black turtle neck and head to the jazz clubs of Montmartre where everyone will love your sunny Funny Face.

Use it as a trench belted over a chic basic dress, throw on a pair of alligator pumps, big round sunglasses and a great clutch; grab a pastry and head down to 5th avenue at 57th street in NYC and have Breakfast at Tiffany's.

T Style

A chic take on the classic tee, our basic top in silk charmuse is the perfect base to any look. With subtle nuances designed to flatter a woman's figure - the concentration of fit is at the side of the bust holding the figure in; seams curve towards the front, drawing the eye; the back arcs gently away eliminating bra fat; this holds where it needs to hold and forgives what needs forgiving.

Team it with jeans for cool casual comfort; under a sharp suit for sophisticated chic - perfect for work; jazz it up with jewels or cinch it with a great belt. Perfect for any occasion and style.

Day to Night

So often our wardrobes have to preform double duty (with our busy lives and current economic status our clothes need to really work for us). From work to cocktails, days shopping to nights out, women need pieces that they can rely upon to conquer any situation.

Enter the shirt-dress. First appearing in the pre-war collections of American sportswear designer Claire McCardell, and entering the lexion of high fashion in the 70's with Halston's takes in ultrasuede and silk jersey. I have taken on this wardrobe classic and updated it for the modern woman in luxurious silk charmuese, freeing up the silhouette giving it a languid sensuality in its soft drape and fall.

This updated version is the best selling dress in my collection and we do it season after season. Shown here in our staple navy silk. For day give it some structure for the office by cinching it in with a great belt. Tan leather accessories keep the look classic but grounded for day. As the sun sets mix it up for a night out. Loosen the silhoutte by removing the belt and undoing the top button, the feeling is soft and sensual - almost as if you have stepped out in a sexed up version of your boyfriends silk pajayma shirt. Throw on some beads, a killer heel and a statement clutch and you are ready for a fantastic time.

The Scarf

For me the Scarf is the ultimate accessory - versatile, chic and stylish. It can add colour, texture and life to a garment. Tie it close around your neck to keep you warm; loop it casually for laid back chic; use it as a belt to cinch in your waist; over a dress, with jeans and a silk 'T' style top, under a great winter coat. The perfect finish to any look.