Let's meet: Halcyon State

via instagram (@nicoletj)

I met the lovely Leigh Gibson at Fashionopolis last month, and was pleasantly surprised to learn that she was behind the Melbourne-based online store Halcyon State. I had browsed their website prior to our initial meeting, and loved the varied range of Australian and New Zealand designers available. From Shakuhachi and House of Wilde, to Chip Chop! and Mad Love, Halcyon State brings you the glamourous, the quirky, and everything in between to suit your style and occasion. I pop her a few questions..

What do you look for when you're sourcing items for your store?

Halcyon State is about special pieces for your wardrobe so when I see new designer collections, it is important that every item has an x-factor. Who knows what that might be, but I am excited when every piece arrives because each one is uniquely special and appeals to different parts of my personality.

Are there any designers in particular you're loving at the moment?

If I don't love the designer, they don't appear in my store, but I have been wearing a Joveeba leather jacket, Totomoto Australia medallion and Estilo Emporio biker boots almost every day since they each arrived. Is that love? The current Tato and Memi collection is stunning with the mix of white silk/linen blend with gold tweed, Shakuhachi is amazing and Chip Chop! have easy fit pieces with just the right touch of quirk and playfulness.

What special services can your customers look forward to?

I often chat to customers before or after a purchase to confirm sizing  and fit prior to sending out parcels. Every purchase made from Halcyon State is enclosed in a silk drawstring bag (made by my mum or I! :) because I want your unwrapping experience to be special. Customers in Melbourne can call and arrange to visit the office to try pieces on too. The shop phone number is 0457 888 758.

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Please take my word that the silk drawstring bags made by Leigh and her mum are beautiful! In various prints and sizes according to your order, it is definitely a pretty personal touch that makes receiving your order all the more exciting! We also teamed up in a photoshoot and I can't wait to share my fave picks from the store - stay tuned and enjoy your long weekend x

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Gelato, anyone?

Mint knit; Ellery Textured Pants; Zara Heels; Rubi Beanie; DIY Friendship Bracelet

This outfit was honestly put together in a hurry, and as I walked out of the house I realised I might have looked like a delicious mix of peppermint choc chip gelato and berry sorbet. Strangely it grew on me. Found this mint knit at a garage sale and this gorgeously cute beanie with a pom pom top for only 5 bucks! I love anything textured so these Ellery pants jumped out at me at their Melbourne sample sale a month or two back. Green and pink are probably an unconventional colour mix but thought they worked pretty well, being in softer pastel shades. Oh! I also had a little friendship bracelet phase a couple weeks back (the repetition involved in making them was rather therapeutic) and am wearing one in a pastel coloured mix. 

Pleasantly surprised too when the top photo made its way to ASOS Fashion Finder's homepage earlier this week :) What do you think - what other gelato/sorbet-inspired outfit combinations would you come up with?

Photos by Thomas Lo

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MOSSMAN TAKE #2

Mossman Follow the Gold Brick Road Skirt; The Allure Shirt; Tony Bianco Wedges

As promised, here's the second installation from my Mossman collab with Alice from Catwalk of Words! I have been a fan of clashing/complimentary prints of late and I suppose it's really an individual opinion if you like it or not. I love how both pieces I've chosen are great on their own - the striped shirt with a wide cuff and subtle curved hemline; the high waist mini with a metallic hit for a bit of colour and shine! That's what I really like about Mossman, that each piece looks great from afar and packs a punch with its attention to detail. Together with some striking skyhigh wedges and again my nifty Diana, I thought they made for a wonderful ensemble worthy of MBFWA up in Sydney (not that I'm there, but clearly wishing I were)!

 Be sure to check out what Alice has to say about the shoot in a few days - hope you enjoy the shots as much as we had fun shooting them! 

Photos by Thomas Lo.

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