#rock #women #fashion #inspire #mamy #love #brisbane #parade #collection #A/W 2012 #fractured

A couple of months ago I got an email that got me excited.  Fashion Society Brisbane  http://www.fashionsociety.com.au/  invited me or should I say , my label Shirley Fracture Couture, along with three other Brisbane designers/labels, to be involved in a fashion parade.  But this was not just a parade like the ones we see every week(as lovely as some are), this was an event the likes of which Brisbane had not seen before or within memory at least.  And speaking of memory, Memory International were bringing Ruth Flowers aka Mamy Rock to The Met night club in Fortitude Valley & Fashion Society  were starting the event with a fashion parade.

I really wanted to be involved but at first didn't know how I could make it happen.  There were the logistics, the costs, the timing.......it wouldn't be easy but could I do it?  'Shirleys' theme for 2012 is 'women who rock' as 'Shirley' does & Mamy Rock is a huge inspiration to me.  She is hugely popular the world over & is the words oldest DJ.  She began this career in later life after the death of her husband, deciding she didn't want to just sit at home alone & fade away & through her close relationship with her grandson. Find out more about her here  http://www.mamyrock.com/home.htm

But....I was going to Melbourne for my nephews wedding & then on to Adelaide to catch up with friends & so wouldn't even be here....bad timing.  Plus the cost of the trip to Melbourne while trying to get my Autumn/Winter 2012 collection done.  Although I was flattered to be asked, after weighing it all up, I had to decline the gig.  But thank goodness the gorgeous Leila (who knew how much I wanted this) from Fashion Society wouldn't take no for an answer & came up with creative options & ideas  that allowed me, after a bit of re-arranging, to say a big fat yes.  Adelaide was out, I was coming straight back to Brisbane & arriving back the day before the show, I had to get everything ready weeks ahead of time before I left for Melbourne.  (Adelaide, I will see you later in the year.)
Luckily my work experience assistant had just started the fortnight before I was due to leave & was on hand to help me get everything organised & retain my sanity.  Was it all worth it, Hell Yes.  Was it perfect? It was perfectly what is was.  Was it a success?  All indications are positive.  Would I do it again? Absolutely.  I am so very impressed by Leila from Fashion Society & the effort she put in on my behalf & to make it possible for me to be involved.  It was her vision to take the opportunity to highlight & promote local Brisbane labels at this, Ruth Flowers very first gig in Australia in a way that R O C K E D.

The parade was kicked off by Dirty Mob, who were great & really started the night off with a bang.https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dirty-Mob/80936140950

Other labels featured were newbie Faith & Lola, Speak No Ink & Black Milk.  Of course I will say that Shirley Fracture Couture ruled the runway with it's inherent  theatricality & quirkiness.  The models really shone in their outfits & had a lot of fun with it.  The crowds reaction to 'Shirley' was fantastic & it was exciting to be amongst it all, the atmosphere was electric.  For my part, it was a bit of a retrospective as well  a preview of the latest collection for Autumn/Winter 2012, 'Fractured'.  Oh & my logo on the giant screen.........friken' awesome.

So not my usual Friday night these days.  The parade began at 11 pm then Mamy Rock was on after midnight & I now had a shoe full of beer from getting stuck in the middle of a fight on the stairs, the venue was absolutely packed.  I'm glad I was able to hang in there & this was helped in the end by security following me about with a chair ( I learnt from the Dresden Dolls gig to request seating as I can't stand around for hours on end anymore, as sad as that makes me, I have to face reality).

Then just after 2 am, when I was ensconced on one of the very comfy sofas in the VIP room the woman herself, Ruth Flowers/ Mamy Rock appeared amidst flashes from cameras & surrounded by the buzzing throng of her entourage.  It was like this before she went on also, people taking photos & interviews etc it seemed never ending & I wondered how she really felt about it all & indeed how she managed it all.  She was in the middle of a world tour, she had just celebrated her 69th birthday but I have to say, I think she has been 69 for a while now.  I now also think I know why she wears those big dark glasses but she is well practised at striking a pose.  

Yes this is her job & she is used to it but I however, am not & it is quite confronting to be surrounded by people & cameras flashing etc & I hate having my photo taken at the best of times, hence, I look a bit like  deer in the headlights. But it was so worth it, she grabbed my hand & cuddled in & I have to say, her hands are so soft & she is so cuddly you just want to cuddle her any way.  She asked me to stay sitting with her on the comfy sofa & I really wanted to but thought I would probably be lynched by those waiting to have their photo taken with her.  Anyway, that is the result of all that & I know there will be some really awful ones out there as I know I had stupid looks on my face & didn't know which camera & what direction I was supposed to be looking, hopefully they will be deleted.

My usual photographer Josie Richardson was there also so there will be a few more shots to come of the parade itself.  I look forward to seeing what she has captured.  Overall it was fucking brilliant & I really enjoyed doing a joint parade with other labels, all the pressure isn't on you.  In the beginning, it wasn't easy giving up creative control to someone else but I just had to take a deep breath & go with the flow. So far everything I've done, I've managed every stage from concept of the design in my head to styling & photographing a collection so, it was a good experience for me to learn about something new & to learn more about myself in the process. I would definitely do it again & I firmly believe Brisbane fashion needs to be presented more creatively like this & needs more confidence in itself & it's place in the world.

 It is certainly Shirley Fractures' raison d'etre to be bold, to be fearless.  'Fashion for the fearless....' for sure.   If you wear 'Shirley' you will be noticed & are the kind of person who dares to be different & is more interested in the aesthetics of fashion than what is 'in fashion'.  It usually works out that Shirley Fracture is ahead of the trends & is always in style as the designs are based on classic styles & traditions but with a twist.  It is not mass produced.  It is created by hand, custom made to suit the customers requirements for individuality, is limited edition & in these ways is truly 'couture'.

Well this has turned into an epic but I hope you enjoyed my little story.  Before I go, it is Shirley Fractures  birthday this month, it was a year ago the label was offiically launched & I'm looking for ideas of how to celebrate....any ideas or anything you want to see 'Shirley' doing, let me know.  Until next time....  SHIRLEY FRACTURE COUTURE ROCKS..loves women who ROCK, like Mamy Rock who as 'the worlds oldest DJ' is 'Still Rocking' & if you are reading this then YOU ROCK.    XX

All About, Ins & Outs

Hey there gorgeous people.  .  So it's March already..yep, master of stating the obvious, but we got here so fast.  It's been a good start to the year.  Lets summarise.  You know Shirley loves to ROCK & women who ROCK is tending to be a theme for this year.  I know a few personally but  have come across some new ones professionally who are not only talented but are inspirational & gorgewah.


I wanted to put together a video of some of my gorgeous photos from previous shoots  but the music accompanying it is really important to me.  So began a rather frustrating process until one day late last year I happened upon Alina Simone, specifically this track http://alinasimone.bandcamp.com/track/beautiful-machine  which I fell in love with & was pleasantly surprised to learn the woman herself is a really cool & lovely person.  Bam music dilemma over, after weeks of trying to contact people to find out about copyright to use songs & getting no replies, I had the music & I couldn't be happier about the result.

So I've put together three little videos now & they display the images beautifully although my video making skills could benefit from some experience. I'm planning on doing more videos this year to highlight some local women who ROCK.  

Then something serendipitous happened.  I've loved Amanda Palmer http://blog.amandapalmer.net/  for quite some time now & who should be connected to her but Alina Simone.  They are friends & have worked together in the past.  Both inspirational women to me.  I love to see people doing what they love & being successful at it, it makes me really happy.  Amanda is a solo artist but also in a band The Dresden Dolls http://www.dresdendolls.com/ who toured Oz & N.Z. in the new year.  So it was in early January, I spotted photos of Amanda Palmer sitting up in a tree playing one of her ninja gigs at Occupy Melbourne, in Melbourne of course.  

One of my first thoughts was 'get out of that tree crazy lady, you'll snag your leggings', ha ha.  Luckily photographer Francesco Vicenzi was on hand, his work is amazing check it out here, http://www.francescovicenzi.eu/eng/pensieri/  , & luckily he seemed to like the 'Walk This Way' leggings, get them here,  http://shirleyfracturecouture.bigcartel.com/product/walk-this-way-legging as he took  few shots focused on them.  Thanks so much Vicenzo.

I was so fricken' excited when I saw these photos, & I think they must have been comfy as Amanda wore them for the rest of the day & even out onto the stage that night.  These next photos were taken by lovely drum prodigy Lisa Waters who got to spent the day hanging out with Brian Viglione.  Thanks Lisa. blog..http://withmywatercolors.tumblr.com/

I've also been searching this year for a work experience assistant.  There is so much work to do there is no way I can do it all on my own anymore.  This was no easy task either.  I interviewed some really great young women & after a couple of false starts, I think I have found a keeper with super assistant Kaylee.  There's her leggies above,  in a sample pair of purple leggings she took a liking to.  

It has been difficult to say the least, to get my business, this business of 'Shirley', off to a flying start.  I've been working hard on my label for over year now, I couldn't tell you how many hours, a lot.  And I absolutely don't mind the work, I am passionate about what I'm doing & am happy to work hard to achieve my dreams.

  With that end in mind I also launched a crowd funding project to try & get some finance to fund the next collection & keep the business growing.  I  won't reach my target at this rate so please pledge even a dollar & share with all you know.  I really need this but it's worth a try right?  If the target isn't reached none of the pledges are given, or taken for that matter.   Please have a look  http://www.pozible.com/index.php/archive/index/4886/description/0/0  Wowser, just realised it's half over, eeek.

So I now find myself on the countdown to my nephews wedding in Melbourne next week.  While there I can't wait to pop into Pony Boy Parlour who stock 'Shirley' meet the lovely owners & check it all out.https://www.facebook.com/ponyboyparlour.  

Until then I'm madly trying to get the winter collection ready as when I get back from my leetle trip I'm joining Ruth Flowers,  Mamy Rock at the Met here in Brisbane, March 30 th.  Yeah baby, woo hoo.  Love her.  Another woman who ROCKS well & truly.    'Shirley' will be participating in a fashion show  along side Mamy Rock & I'll be showing a bit of a retrospective along with previewing  the latest Autumn/Winter 2012 Collection.  If you are in Brisbane I really hope you come along.  It's going to be a wild night.  I'll certainly keep you updated.  

Well it's been a great start to the year yes?  I'm really excited to show you  the winter collection as well.  I'm  very happy with it, I think each collection gets better than the last & will be shooting it after the Mamy Rock gig.  OK so that's the news for now, really looking forward to what comes next.  With some of the things that have happened this year so far I've thought 'yay, my hard work is starting to pay off' ,  there is still such  long way to go but I'm enjoying the trip.  XX

Inside Scoop - The Dirt

Have you seen this gorgewah Skull Stud Maxi dress?  Looks great on the equally gorgewah model, Lara, right?

It is hand dyed, hand painted, has hand sewn ribbon detail & is an up-cycled vintage slip & is only $85.  Some of you think that's reasonable right?  Some of you are probably thinking 'only'.... that's expensive, right?  Well maybe reserve your opinion until you have read this.

It probably took me an hour & a half to find the slip, good quality vintage items are getting harder to find & are at the same time getting more expensive, especially as I like to find ones that have never been worn.  Some still have original tags attached & fewer even come in their original packaging.


Next is the design process.  Sometimes I may look at something & within 5 minutes have the design down & know exactly how I want it to look.  At other times, it may be something I mull over for months & that develops slowly with adjustments made along the way.  Ideas added, subtracted . For the sake of this exercise we'll say 1 hour.

Then there is the cost of the fabric dye, the fabric paints & the ribbon.  Doing the actual dying probably takes 40 minutes, the painting of the design onto the garment, 1 & a 1/2 hours & the hand sewing of the ribbon, another 2 hours. Ta daaaa, done right?  No not quite yet.

Next it has to be photographed, which for one look, if I push the photographer along, half an hour.  But before that there is the models hair & makeup, styling of the shot, setting up the shot.....oh I nearly forgot, deciding on the location which involves scouting a location &, travelling time,  but I'm not even going to try & attribute a time value to all that.

So the photo is in the bag, done right.  No no, don't be so anxious.  Next is the loading & listing of the item to the web store, a time consuming task.  There is the description, the details eg, size, oh, hang on, convert vintage size to modern size first, postage costs, wait, work out the weight of the parcel to be, what part of the world is it going to, how much it would be if posted with another item.  Now you can load the photos once you have re sized them of course.  Let's be generous & say that little process takes 20 minutes.

I also like to post new items to facebook as well but that doesn't take long right?  Probably not, if facebook is working smoothly & people don't have any questions that is.

So there it is our gorgeous Skull Stud maxi dress for $85.  Lets break it down, materials cost around $45.  What is the average wage these days? Around $33 per hour, minimum rate around $15.  Well let's say $20 per hour, that's fair right? In total that's nearly 7 hours which is $140.  Total $185 dollars.  Yes I've rounded  up the hours but I hadn't yet mentioned the fees involved in a sale, IE., paypal or bank fees & other associated costs like webpage & domain fees, transport costs, time in labelling & packaging etc & so on.

Most artists & crafters & makers of things by hand know that you never get paid for all the hours you put in, most other occupations do though.  But hey, we love what we do & nothing makes me happier than seeing people wearing my creations.

So keeping all this in mind & also armed with the knowledge that 'Shirley' garments are either limited edition or one offs, this is not mass produced off the rack here, I 'm thinking $85 for this dress is not reasonable, is not expensive, it is in fact inexpensive & the purchaser ends up with a  cool, unique garment that they won't run into someone else wearing.  XX

  

Shirley Rocks 2012 by Kathleen Dittmar on Pozible

Shirley Rocks 2012 by Kathleen Dittmar on Pozible

You can pledge & you can pledge & you can pledge, everybody can pledge & share share share. Just click on link above & show some love. XX

Goodbye Hello

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8heAmM6-q8

If you feel so inclined to click on this link above you won't be disappoited, one of the great things that happened this year of 2011 was my discovering Alina Simone & this song is filled with heart & soul & guts & beauty. And I think the same can be said for the woman herself.

Another great thing about 2011 was all the fantastic people I got to work with on shoots for 'Shirley'. There's two of them to the left there & more below.

It has been a challenging year filled with a lot of hard work. I've learned a lot of new things, about business, computers, myself. I love to learn but some lessons come easier than others.

I'll be glad to say goodbye to 2011 knowing that I have done my very best & I'll be happy to see 2012 which will be jammed

packed with exciting new projects.

I fully expect to work just as hard if not harder. Some of the old challenges will remain(I am stuck with myself & my own physical limitations) & there will be new ones to overcome. But I'm confident it is going to be a big year for 'Shirley'.

I really appreciate those of you who have supported me in 2011, whether it be following this blog, buying something, selling something, words of encouragement etc., it all means a lot to me & helps keep me going.

I'll be taking on a work experience assistant & look forward to interviewing & meeting everyone.

Of course there's the designing & execution of the Winter 2012 collection. Video projects, fashion parades like this town has never seen before & a huge trip to Melbourne & Adelaide in March/April & on it goes.

Here's me with my number one supporter who is always by my side. So... much love & cheers to you & now to go celebrate the year that was & to welcome the year to come. XX

Work It

Wow...what a year 2011 has been right?  I know it has a been a big year for 'Shirley' & 2012 is set to be huge.

So much exciting stuff planned for the new year & there is just so much to do I can no longer do it on my own.
That said,  I am looking for a work experience assistant.  If you are studying or just completed studies or are wanting to build your resume' for example & need experience for your career.......it is not  paid position but there will be some opportunities for remuneration.

If you want a career in any of these-  fashion, business management, retail & sales, marketing & pr, event management, stylist


If you have any of the following skills - computer skills, administrative, overlocking, video, photography, hair & make up, research, grant applications, networking




A willingness to muck in & help out where needed will put you in good stead.  A vehicle is desirable but not necessary.


                                                       plus much more


Of course you don't have to have all of these things & one of the important aspects is that you can be flexible & creative & have a sharp mind, & that you suit the work environment that is 'Shirley' world.

The location is Paddington in Brisbane & is poodle friendly.  There are also sometimes foster dogs that stay with us until they are adopted.  So if you are allergic or don't like dogs then the position is not for you.

Behind the scenes............some of the tasks you may have to perform.  Sheltering photographers in the rain, giving models a thorough soaking, public events such as markets............helping out at photo shoots & the view from the office, not bad hey?

If you aren't afraid of hard work, want to have fun, be involved in exciting projects,  then please send an email to introduce yourself & tell me something about you.   Include your contact details & send  to this address work@shirleyfracture.com.au 

This little piggy

Yes I attended some markets on Sunday at West End.  The experience should have been like this.....& by the way, man Iggy is looking good.

Unfortunately it was more like this...................

  I tried my peeps, I tried.

Some images for you of the day which I got through with a little help from my friends, you know who you are & I thank you from the heart of my bottom.

That pretty much sums it up. I am in no way negative about the market itself, it is a great idea & the woman in charge was lovely but it just didn't work out for me on the day & I ain't gonna bullshit ya.   XX