Diamonds in the Sky...

Style Palace recently attended the "Diamonds in the Sky" event hosted by Diploma, at their riverside Penthouse in Perth.

Guests enjoyed champagne on arrival and were encouraged to sample wines from the Berry Farm and enjoy the stunning views of the Perth skyline...

The Style Palace Princesses spent their afternoon styling our expressionless mannequins (Claudia was left in the Palace)... Here are a few pictures of how the Princesses made the mannequins sparkle and come to life...

We Heart the Chanel Clog...

You have probably seen them in every fashion mag you have opened recently - we have and are addicted to them just like we are to chocolate and caffeine! There's really nothing more to say except that the Princesses (well, one in particular) heart clogs and can't wait to style them into our summer wardrobe this year.

The only problem is that the Chanel clogs are on top of the wish list but if the budget can't stretch for these beauties then there are other great options from Zara and Topshop at a more reasonable price. Beautiful eye candy for all the shoe-obsessed fashionistas out there! Enjoy!

Little Black Dress withstands the test of time

Fashion trends don’t just change every year, they change every season, but in an industry that is all about ‘what’s new’ it is great to know there are some wardrobes classics that withstand the test of time.

UK company Lovefilm recently conducted a survey to find the greatest female screen outfit of all time and Audrey Hepburn’s simple black dress worn in the opening scenes of the popular 1961 film, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, came in at number one. The dress was worn with pearls and long black gloves and although it was designed by Givenchy almost fifty years ago, it is still recognised throughout the world as a timeless classic and epitomises elegance for style conscious women everywhere.

It beat Jacqueline Durran’s green dress worn by Kiera Knightley in Atonement which came in at number two, as well as many other iconic screen outfits including Marilyn Monroe’s famous white dress in ‘The Seven Year Itch’, the yellow dress worn by Kate Hudson in ‘How to lose a guy in 10 days’ and the stunning wedding dress designed by Vivienne Westwood and worn by Sarah Jessica Parker in her role as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City (The Movie).

Lovefilm editor, Helen Cowley, said ‘Audrey Hepburn has truly made that little back dress a fashion staple which has stood the test of time, despite competition from the most stylish females around.’

Darlene Gianoli, founder and director of Style Palace, acknowledges the little black dress will always be a wardrobe favourite, regardless of a woman’s age or style preferences.

‘There are so many variations of the little black dress but it will never go out of fashion because it can be worn by women of all ages and sizes and there is always the perfect little black dress to be found for any event,’ said Darlene.

‘Style Palace has stocked so many fabulous little black dresses over the past couple of years. The Bon Bon Dress by bec & bridge was playful and fun, the Prom Night Dress by Tali Roth is sexy, and the Ruffle Long Sleeve dress by Sumakhi is versatile and great for winter – there are just too many to mention,’ Darlene continued.

‘Women are always on the eternal quest for the perfect little black dress but I think it is exciting that there are so many variations of the traditional little black dress to suit any event. You can never have too many little black dresses!’ Darlene laughed.

To shop the little black dresses available online at Style Palace, visit dresses at sylepalace.com.au

Style Palace welcomes Carly Paiker...

If you have picked up a copy of Grazia or any of our other favourite fashion mags in recent months, it is highly likely you might have spotted some of Carly Paiker’s highly sought after jewellery and accessories gracing the fashion pages.

Carly Paiker has rapidly been making a name for herself and received a great deal of press after accessorising the highly publicised Flannel collection at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in 2009 and again making a splash at this year’s Fashion Week with close to forty back-to-back appointments throughout the week.

Many of the larger PR agencies have been stunned to hear that Carly looks after all her own press, especially considering the amazing amount of exposure she has received in recent times which just goes to show her designs are speaking for themselves.

‘It is always exciting to open a magazine and see pieces that you have designed featured in the pages of the magazines you have always read,’ said Carly.

Some of Carly’s most popular pieces are the triple leather wrap bracelets which Carly hand delivered to Style Palace recently whilst on a trip home to Perth from Sydney, and it is Perth’s beaches and laid back lifestyle that have inspired many of her designs.

‘I think it is the relaxed nature of Perth that comes across in my designs,’ said Carly.

‘Even though I use top quality products and they are shiny and polished they all have an effortless appeal about them which I think is reflective of the Perth lifestyle. You don’t really have to think, what am I going to wear them with? They are pieces that can be worn with anything and don’t need to be saved for a special occasion.’

Carly’s designs have captured the attention of both local and international buyers who are dazzled by the quality and attention to detail of her designs.

‘I like to take a little bit of the latest trends and give them my own little flair,’ said Carly.

‘They are luxury pieces and I want to make sure they are perfect. It took me more than twelve months to get the design for the triple leather wrap bracelets just right and I was just so happy when they arrived.’

Darlene Gianoli, founder and director of Style Palace noted it was Carly’s designs and attitude that catapulted her straight onto Style Palace’s list of favourite Australian designers.

‘I spotted her designs at Fashion Week earlier this year and I knew we had to get a selection of her pieces for our eBoutique. Carly embodies everything we love about Australian fashion and she is a Perth girl so it is great to be able to support a designer from our home town,’ said Darlene.

Carly is also a proud supporter of Australian style. ‘I think we have our own take on trends and everything gets translated into our own unique sense of style,’ said Carly who was happy to share a style tip of her own with Style Palace customers.

‘Never be afraid of accessorising and don’t be afraid if your accessories don’t match your outfit. There is always a way to make things work and if you love a piece, you should wear it and wear it proudly. It’s all in the attitude!’

To shop Carly Paiker online at Style Palace, visit stylepalace.com.au or click here.

Style Palace talks to bec & bridge - Interview with Bridget Yorston

It has been a whirlwind few years for bec & bridge since Bec Cooper and Bridget Yorston graduated from Fashion and Textiles at Sydney University in 2003 with first class honours and were propelled into the spotlight in 2006 when David Jones offered them a space alongside other reputable young designers on the shop floors.

The dynamic duo now have another feather in their caps after winning the 2010 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship which will provide them with freight to the value of AU$10,000 and coaching in freight and logistics from DHL Express.

Style Palace has been a proud stockist of bec & bridge since 2008 and took the time this week to congratulate the girls on their win and have a quick chat to Bridget Yorston, Creative Director, who was very pleased to have won the scholarship.

‘We’ve been exporting to Asia, USA and New Zealand for two years now and in terms of business growth this is a focus of ours. Our latest collection shown at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week captured the attention of international buyers, including those from the UK and Dubai. Winning the scholarship has come at the perfect time as it will help us to meet this increasing demand.’

‘We are very excited about the $10,000 prize package particularly the coaching and support from DHL which will help us take full advantage of this opportunity.’

Although bec & bridge’s market is currently more than 90% from within Australia, the opportunity to increase their profile within countries such as the US is an exciting prospect.

‘I think the US will be a strong focus for us. We have some good stockists and our designs translate well into their market but we want to take baby steps and ensure we don’t grow too fast.’

When asked if international trends and preferences influence their designs, Bridge noted it has always been about Australian style for the label.

‘The Australian market has always been our focus and we feel like that is what makes us unique to the international market and gives us a distinct point of difference.’

Style Palace is a staunch supporter of Australian style and asked Bridge what she thought made Australian fashion so special.

‘I think it has a real ease about it, it is wearable, fresh, and has a lot of variety. The Australian fashion industry has a great stable of designers who are able to cater to a wide range of markets and I think Australian designers just have a great approach to things.’

The bec & bridge label has certainly been a consistently popular choice with Style Palace customers and many items from the winter collection have been flying out the door, in particular the Lattice Fence Blazer, the Game Day Dress and the Bon Bon Dress.

‘My favourite piece was the Lattice Fence Blazer – I had so much wear out of it. This winter was really a sports inspired collection and we were looking to make sportswear cool and wearable.’

Bridge also noted there was plenty to look forward to from their upcoming summer 10/11 collection which will be available online from August this year.

‘The colour palette will be a feature this summer with beautiful pastels and gorgeous summer prints. The collection is quite feminine.’

But Bridge encourages Style Palace customers not to be afraid to mix it up.

‘Mix your feminine style with something a little more edgy and don’t take your summer wardrobe too seriously. Pair a military style jacket with a feminine dress and don’t be afraid to mix your silhouettes.’

To shop bec & bridge online at Style Palace, visit http://www.stylepalace.com.au/products/designer/bec-and-bridge

Award Finalists with Judge
Kirsty Lawrence, Glenn Coleman, Bec Cooper, Nicola Finetti, Bridget Yorston

Princess Lisa on a Glamorous Holiday

Princess Lisa from Style Palace is on a well deserved break on a yacht cruising the gorgeous bays of Turkey. We were extremely envious when she sent through these pics but she does look gorgeous and relaxed and ready to come back to the Palace next week - we know she can't wait and that she misses us all so much. We can't wait to have you back Princess. We miss you too!

A Sneak Peek at Louis Vuitton's Fall 2010 Campaign

The Style Palace team adore this vintage-style pic of the Louis Vuitton Fall 2010 Campaign. We also love the fact that they mixed their choice of supermodels featuring Christy Turlington, Karen Elson and Natalia Vodianova in the campaign. They all look beautiful, radiant and prove that the more mature woman (in model terms) can still look amazing. We heart the bags too!

Photographer - Steven Meisel

Chambord® Shine Awards 2010 Explodes Onto the National Fashion Stage

With past winners Carl Kapp and AJE going on to huge success dressing top Australian celebrities and opening their own flagship boutiques, Chambord® Shine Awards are offering designers even more this year. As well as taking the Chambord Shine program national for 2010 with Runway Showcases in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, the grand prize of Chambord® Shine Awards in 2010 is bigger and better than ever. The winning designer will get to show their design to 2,000 consumers at the Strand Arcade’s “An Evening with Our Designers”, the design will be worn by a fashion forward celebrity during Spring Racing Carnival and they will also be able to show their own collection at Australia’s largest consumer fashion festival in 2011, thanks to Chambord. From applications and recommendations from Chambord’s many fashion industry contacts, 8-10 designers will be invited to showcase garments from their current collections in pop up fashion shows, The Chambord Shine Runway Showcases, at Cloudland – Brisbane (29th June), Longroom – Melbourne (6th July) and The Loft – Sydney (7th July). A panel of celebrity judges and event guests will take part in the judging process choosing the ten finalists that will be commissioned for the Chambord Shine Awards Final.

The ten finalists will be given a brief to design an outfit for Spring Racing Carnival and given $1000 each to make their creation. The finalists will show their creations to a panel of judges from the Chambord Council of fashion industry insiders at the Chambord® Shine Awards 2010 final at Sydney’s Strand Arcade on Wednesday 1st September.

The winning design will be worn by a celebrity at the 2010 Spring Racing Carnival and the winner will also receive a runway show at Australia’s largest consumer fashion festival. The Chambord Council, made up of celebrities, will recommend designers to be invited to take part in the Chambord Runway Showcases. Designers may also put themselves forward for consideration. To be considered for invitation you must be over 18 years of age; please send an email including your name, location, age, information about your brand and images from your current collection to chambordshineawards@6dc.com.au.

“We feel so honoured to have been aligned with a label like Chambord and so flattered that our Chambord creation was chosen by such a respected panel of judges. It is truly inspirational that Chambord is so encouraging of emerging talent within the Australian fashion industry and the Shine Awards are an amazing platform to showcase this. We wish this year’s contestants all the best.” Adrian Norris, Bree Norris and Edwina Robinson of AJE

“It is now nearly two years on from my win at the Chambord Shine Awards and my label has grown from strength to strength. I have been fortunate enough to dress some of Australia’s most glamourous women including Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Rose Byrne and Rachael Taylor. Being associated with Chambord and their Shine Awards program really opened doors for me. I look forward to seeing who walks away with the prize this year.” Carl Kapp

Chambord ®... It is always in style to drink responsibly.

2008 Winner - Carl Kapp

2009 Winner - AJE

Diploma Clients 'Shop like Carrie Bradshaw' at Style Palace..

Last night Style Palace was delighted to open its showroom doors for a ‘Shop Like Carrie Bradshaw’ event which was hosted by leading Perth property developer, Diploma, on behalf of its many apartment buyers throughout Perth.

The event was inspired by the recent release of ‘Sex and the City 2’ and was a great excuse for Diploma and its clients to celebrate everything fabulous about inner-city living such as restaurants, cafes, bars, galleries, and most importantly – fashion.

Diploma has many style conscious clients and the event was a great excuse for them to drop by our showroom in East Perth, enjoyed a chilled glass of champagne on arrival and browse two floors of gorgeous fashion from Australia’s best emerging and established designers. Style Palace is also the stockist of Samantha Wills accessories and items which were chosen by Sex and the City stylist Patricia Field to appear in the second feature Sex and the City movie were available for purchase during the event.

Local Perth paper, The Sunday Times, dropped by to take some photos so we will be sure to check out this weekend’s edition of STM to see which shoppers were snapped in action.
In the meantime, we are busy getting ready to open our showroom doors again tonight for our very special Designer Stocktake Sale from 4pm to 8pm. We look forward to seeing all our Perth based clients very soon! x

Style Palace Obsession ... COCO By Cadbury

We all know how much girls love chocolate and the SP Princesses are no exception. We were excited to receive a special parcel recently packed full of the new COCO By Cadbury truffles. The perfect gift for a special friend or just for yourself! All we can say is that they are SO delicious and we are in LOVE ...



Introducing the latest offering in premium gifting, the COCO By Cadbury brand has been designed to celebrate female friendships. An unashamedly feminine chocolate gift, inspired by all the beautiful things women love.

We all know that as women we love to treat ourselves and be treated, and chocolate is the perfect way to spoil someone close to you.

The COCO By Cadbury offer consists of a selection of sumptuously smooth milk chocolate truffles encased in milk chocolate and wrapped in beautiful packaging with a touch of femininity.

Every detail of the COCO By Cadbury offer, from the contemporary packaging through to the indulgent truffles, reflects an unashamedly feminine attitude to chocolate.
Just like the women who give and receive it, the COCO By Cadbury offer is feminine gorgeousness on the inside and outside. The perfect gift for no reason at all, COCO By Cadbury Truffles celebrate special relationships and allows you to spoil those friends that mean the most to you.

COCO by Cadbury is available now exclusively at David Jones. RRP for 195g COCO by Cadbury bag is $12.95.

Another very happy shopper...Wangle review

Style Palace is very proud to have a review on the pages of the new Perth website, Wangle.

Launched only this month wangle.com.au is a new online magazine featuring opinion and blogs from some of WA’s biggest names (pollies, celebs, sports folk etc) and experts in their field. wangle also features the latest in fashion, style tips, reviews and much more. wangle is interactive and is a place for spirited debate.

So who is behind wangle? Mardie Rosich (successful business owner with a background in design, fashion, sales and marketing) and Rebecca Carmody (ABC reporter and Sunday Times columnist) are its creators and driving force. Check out wangle.com.au today.

Below is our review or click here to view online.

Style Palace
Posted on May 27th, 2010 at 6:00 am
By Jodie Mori

Shopping for clothes online can be a scary experience. There’s the stress of picking the right size, as well as asking yourself questions like will the style suit me and do I trust them enough to hand over my credit card details?

All this worry was blasted away upon receiving my first purchase from Style Palace.

Web Design and Layout
Style Palace’s website is chic, modern and glamorous. Photos of each outfit upload quickly and everything is easy to find.

I wouldn’t have minded the dress section being be divided into ‘day’ and ‘evening’ wear, but who’s to say that a day dress can’t be an evening dress and vice versa.

Product Range
There is something for women of all shapes, sizes and tastes. The range covers everything from great bargains to high end fashion. Style Palace shows great support for Australian designers too.

Owner, Darlene Gianoli, has hand-picked clothes that suit her current clients and excite new buyers. This is quite a feat knowing that she styles teens to mid 60s.

Tips from the changeroom
Darlene recommends staying open minded and giving new things a go. One of Darlene’s favourite quotes by designer Florence Eiseman sums it up, “Please do not have a fit in the fitting room – your fashion life begins there.”

Customer Service
I chose the dress I wanted to purchase with a little apprehension. I had never purchased clothing online before, so it was my first time. A virgin if you will.

The one thing that did put my mind at ease was that I was purchasing from a business that was local. When the transaction was completed, an email was sent to me, advising that a Style Palace representative would be contacting me in regards to my delivery. Brilliant!

Delivery of goods
First thing Monday my mobile rang. A lovely lady thanked me for purchasing and said she could courier my dress out that day. Once the destination was locked in, it was on it’s way.

One hour after that phone call, my receptionist brought me this beautiful package. A Style Palace bag with pink ribbon drawstring. Inside was a gift wrapped parcel in pink tissue and ribbon, lots of ribbon. The other girls in the office came running over to see what I had received. It’s all about the presentation.

Just ask anyone who’s received something from Tiffany’s.

Verdict
The dress was exactly what was displayed on the webpage and I couldn’t be happier with the all the fuss and fun of having it delivered. If you are unsure about buying online, the Style Palace showroom is open to the public on certain days and times.

Darlene also recommends emailing her your measurements, which she can use to advise on the best size.

With outstanding customer service like this I would recommend Style Palace to anyone.

Search for a Princess...

To date we have had a positive response from Princesses all around Australia and we are excited about welcoming a new Princess to the Palace. We will be keeping you informed of the process in the coming weeks, however online applications close 30 June 2010.

Here are some of the articles recently featured in Western Australian..

SP xx

Carly Paiker coming soon to Style Palace...

The West Australian, 19 May 2010

New branding for Samantha Wills...

You may have already seen the new Samantha Wills logo!! It's a very exciting time for all involved as the brand continues to evolve...

Congratulations to Samantha Wills and her team and we look forward sharing the journey ahead with you.

SP Princesses xx

Style Stalker at Style Palace and Selfridges

Style Palace are very excited to welcome Style Stalker to the Palace this Spring/Summer 10-11. We are very proud to announce that this Sydney label is going to be stocked in the prestigious UK department store Selfridges - yay for Aussie Designers!!

Here is the official announcement ...

Building on a growing global presence which has so far included impressive editorial coverage in UK Grazia and Vogue.co.uk, Sydney-based label Style Stalker is set to become the only Australian designer to be stocked in the prestigious UK department store, Selfridges.

This exciting partnership is a natural progression for the label, whose signature aesthetic (as seen on Florence & The Machine and Kim Kardashian), ties in perfectly with London's edgy and pop-culture obsessed fashion scene. "We are pinching ourselves,” says Style Stalker creators Rachel Zelic and Su-Ann San. “Selfridges has always been our mecca, we're thrilled to be joining the ranks of the incredible labels they carry”.

Full of praise for Style Stalker's Spring 2010/11 collection, 'Wipe Out', Selfridges placed an order of over 30 styles, sighting the ‘Jaws’ tie-dye dress and the cut-out leggings as stand-out pieces. 'We are so excited to be the launch store for Style Stalker in the UK this summer,” says Selfridges’ Contemporary Buyer, Ros Leach. “I fell in love with the collection from the minute I walked into the showroom, the foundation of any summer wardrobe at fantastic prices. I know I'll be wearing it at all the festivals this summer!'.

Keen to get Style Stalker onto the shop floor as quickly as possible, Selfridges has also bought out excess stock from the winter 2010 collection which is to be fast-tracked into store by the end of April. With a fresh, cutting-edge style that has won them over 100 worldwide stockists and legions of fans, this exciting news from one of the world's most prestigious retailers firmly cements Style Stalker's position as a major player on the global fashion stage.

Style Palace Seeks Special Princess...

Grab your tiaras and practice your best royal wave because Style Palace has launched its search for the 2010/2011 Style Palace Princess and is looking for one special girl who will be crowned in glory and become the face of Style Palace for the year ahead.

This is the third year Style Palace has run the competition and this year we are broadening the search nationwide and encouraging girls from all around the country to enter via the new online registration system.

The 2010/2011 Style Palace Princess will follow in the beautiful glass-slippered shoes of Lara Cameron and Chloe Rose Ball, who were announced as the Style Palace Princesses in 2008/09 and 2009/10 respectively.

You do not need to be a professional model because Style Palace is simply looking for a girl that embodies everything that is unique and beautiful about Australian fashion. So if you are bright, fun, special and love Australian fashion as much as we do– jump online and enter!

Entrants will be short-listed by industry leaders and if you are selected as the winner you will be flown to Perth from anywhere in Australia to take part in the Style Palace fashion parade and photo shoot which are scheduled for later in 2010. Professional hair, makeup, photography and styling will be included and you will be able to include the images in your portfolio.

You will also win a $1,000 wardrobe from Style Palace so you can choose all your favourite pieces from your favourite Australian designers. In addition you will have the opportunity to jump in front of the camera and present for SPTV, as well as feature as a guest blogger on this blog!

If all of this sounds too good to be true, jump online and enter today! We look forward to receiving your entry soon.

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week - Day Four

What a day! What a week!

Our week of fashion, fun and frolicking finishes here. The Princesses thoroughly enjoyed 2010 Rosemount Australian Fashion Week - it was well worth the trip for the Style Palace team. We viewed some great shows and collections and picked up some great new designers to bring to you in the future. We met some lovely fashionistas and were especially excited to meet a fellow online boutique owner, Sarah from Beginning Boutique. It can be very lonely in 'cyber space' so to meet someone who can share her online experience with us was great - Sarah, we look forward to keeping in touch with you.

Today was insane and we can't believe we got through it so smoothly. Each day this week has been super busy but today we really were 'super princesses' on a mission. We visited designers, attended shows, squeezed in a very small spot of shopping, caught up with a friend and went to see another friend singing at The Bucket Lounge in Bondi. Here is our schedule for the day to give you a taste of what we were up to - we won't give you a full run down otherwise this post will never end. We will keep this post short and share with you the great pics that we took today. Keep checking back over the next few weeks on a recap of exactly what new designers will be joining Style Palace in the future.

One thing we did realise during the week is that we didn't stop talking from the moment we got on the plane - how can two people talk so much? We're not sure ... but we certainly entertained all the taxi drivers in Sydney!

Final Day Schedule at RAFW
7.30am - Alarm goes off!
9.00-10.45am - Samantha Wills showing of new collection in Alexandria.
11.00am - Ae'lkemi Show at Circular Quay (we were late but so was the show!)
12.45-1.45pm - Shopping in the city.
2.00-2.45pm - Gorman showing of new collection in Surry Hills.
2.45-3.45pm - Shopping in Paddington including a quick lunch and coffee at the Bookstore Cafe (to die for!)
4.00-4.45pm - Kooey parade back at Circular Quay.
5.00-6.00pm - Ellery showing of new collection in Darlinghurst.
6.15-9.15pm - Dinner and shopping in the city with our special friend, Sandy.
9.45pm - Went to see another special friend, Vanessa Raspa, singing at The Bucket Lounge in Bondi Beach ... she's amazing ... check her out at http://www.vanessaraspa.com/

So it's a wrap from RAFW 2010 from Style Palace. We hope you enjoyed our week with us. We now have to fight with our suitcases - how do you fit two suitcases of stuff into one? We're not sure but we'll try - we even had to purchase extra kgs for overweight luggage!!

Sweet, stylish princess dreams to you all ...
xx SP Princesses

Jodie & Darlene with Samantha Wills

Darlene & Jodie with Amy from Samantha Wills

Jodie Loves Jewels

Ae'lkemi

Ae'lkemi

Ae'lkemi

Ae'lkemi

Darlene & Sarah

Kooey

Kooey

Kooey

Kooey

Sarah, Jodie & Darlene

Ellery Summer 2010

Ellery Summer 2010

Jodie & Sandy

Vanessa Raspa

Ae'lkemi Parade, Sydney Fashion Week...

The Princesses have just seen the Perth designed, Ae'lkemi Parade... Great show - beautiful designs xx