Vasilisa The Beautiful

I thought I should share with you the inspiration behind our 2014 Winter Capsule collection 'Oh, Vasilisa!'. More than anything else I found myself inspired by the colour palette and thinking out to this moral tale of how innate goodness always wins out over evil; that these evils come in may guises and that all is never as it appears...

There are a few fairytale picture books that really made an impression on me when I was a small child, and one of them was the Russian Fairytale 'Vasilisa The Beautiful'.


What stuck with me about this particular picture book was how downright frightening it was! I was at an age where I was pretty freaked out about the possibility of witches hiding behind doors at night let alone the possible terrors that existed in our overgrown backyard after dark! I imagined a Baba Yaga with her hook nose and leathered skin riding out to smite me when I ventured to our outside toilet in the dead of the night...

There are many far less frightening versions of this picture book, but we had the original complete with the stunningly detailed illustrations by Ivan Bilibin.

Vasilisa sent out to find fire...as commanded by her evil stepmother, naturally.

Baba Yaga on her strange mortar and pestle contraption. Somewhat more absurd than a broomstick!

Vasilisa observes the white rider that symbolises Dawn...

...and the black rider that symbolises Night. I found him more frightening than Baba Yaga!

The illustrations are truly what makes the book really. They are evocative, dark, symbolic and utterly captivating. The way the trees are drawn, the use of light and shade, the incredible use of colour and the complete immersion in the landscape.
I highly recommend finding yourself a copy and becoming caught up in the dark, desolate and yet ultimately hopeful tale of Vasilisa.

xo
rabia

Pinterest Picks #14

It's a blustery kind of day in Sydney today, wind is whipping the rain around and summer is beginning to feel like an all too distant memory. Combined with our rather fervent winter collection sampling (view our instagram feed for regular updates!), we feel ready to cuddle up with a cup of tea and listen to the steady pitter patter.

{All images sourced from the Ginny & Jude Pinterest boards where they link back to their original source}

xo
g&j

The garden of fashion

Yesterday I was bequeathed quite a beautiful piece of fashion history from a dear friend who was visiting from Berlin. 

Le Jardin Des Modes - The Garden of Fashion - is a rather exquisite French fashion journal from 1951 filled with delicious inspiration for the Autumn/Winter collection I'm currently designing...

Lecon De Mode - Feshion Lesson - we had great fun attempting to translate these last night! 

Some standout rules I am taking away from this are that skirts should be between 30-32 cms from the ground and no shorter, belts should accentuate a narrow waist, shoulders should be wide and that a large swing coat over all these tight angles of tailoring is a must!

Fabulous, fabulous ideas...

 

...and what exquisite winter hats!

I am desperately in love with this jacket.

Nothing like some fun fashion tableaux!

Some of you may already be aware that I have been without a functioning camera since last October. As you can imagine trying to run an online business without a camera has been bordering on ridiculous - there are only so many times you can borrow one from a friend!

Thankfully my new one finally arrived today. It is fabulous and we are very much in love.

I had quite a bit of fun testing its macro settings and ISO fiddly bits this afternoon as the sun was just slipping away behind the roofs. 

This hydrangea would be considered by most to be quite beyond its prime, but I am really enjoying its tainted rainbow hues.

xo rabia

'The Girl Can't Help It' Summer 2012/13 collection from Ginny & Jude

Ginny & Jude Designs present their Summer 2012/13 collection 'The Girl Can't Help It' - where romantic fabrics and designs are married to an adventurous spirit in a flirty anthology of clothing, accessories and gorgeous hats.

The perfect attire for ladies keen on cavorting amongst rocks, wandering through copses of waving trees and resting beneath hidden canopies of green.

Proudly designed and made in Australia.

 'Pina Colada' woven straw hat ~ $145
'Heat Wave' peplum blouse in white pinstripe ~ $115
'Cream Puff' full skirt in pastel stripes ~ $150

'Sunny Side' headwrap made from vintage kimono silk ~ $30
'Evergreen' button-back, collared blouse in Blue Bouquet chiffon ~ $105
'Banana Split' peplum skirt in yellow linen and tulle ~ $175

 'Gardener Cecily' floral haircomb ~ $95
'Heat Wave' peplum blouse in coral pinstripe ~ $115
'Promenade' button-up wiggle skirt in mint broderie cotton ~ $155

'Gardener Penelope' floral haircomb ~ $95
'Putting on Airs' lace collar with vintage Czech glass drops ~ $45
'Ballet Tee' in Ice ~ $85

 'Gardener Marcy' floral haircomb ~ $95
'Swing' necklace in Amazonite ~ $65
'Ballet Tee' in Lime ~ $85
'Cream Puff' full skirt in grey floral ~ $150

 'Gardener Edith' floral haircomb ~ $95
'Heat Wave' peplum blouse in white pinstripe ~ $115
'Promenade' skirt in vintage peach embroidered cotton ~ $165

 'Gin & Tonic' woven straw hat with grosgrain trim ~ $145
'Evergreen' button-back, collared blouse in pastel bows ~ $105
'Banana Split' peplum skirt in mint linen and tulle ~ $175

 ~ C R E D I T S ~
Photography: All photos copyright Lyndal Irons
Hair and Makeup: Tania Bowers
Model: Gabrielle Dillon
Styling: Rabia Lockwood

Shot on location at Girrahween Park, Earlwood
Girrahween is an Aboriginal word meaning 'place of flowers'.

Pinterest Picks #9

Winter?! Pah! We're currently putting the finishing touches on our Summer 2013 collection and as such, winter is dead to us.
These images are some of those pinned to our inspiration board...

{ All images from the Ginny & Jude Pinterest Boards where they link back to their original source }

Come on summer!

xo

g&j

summer hats, the beginning of the process

We received our woven straw hat bases in the mail recently.
Made in a vintage style honeycomb and knot weave, we are excitedly experimenting with shaping and finishing...

They arrive to us in messy shapes with bits of straw coming off everywhere!

SO many exciting things in the works for Summer...

xo
g&j

Presenting our winter 2012 collection 'The Gypsy Daughter'

 a u t u m n / w i n t e r  2 0 1 2

{ from the whispering pines to the mists of the hills }

'The Gypsy Daughter' in all it's warm woollen wonderousness will be launched to the public at the upcoming Winter Finders Keepers Markets in Sydney:
WHEN: Friday 1st June 6pm -10pm and Saturday 2nd June 10am - 5pm
WHERE: CarriageWorks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh NSW

This collection is made in a strictly limited run.
To avoid disappointment, pre-order from 

orders@ginnyandjude.com

1. 'Pine needles and Pinwheels' crop sleeve swing coat $230...'Birch Tree' beret in biscuit with celery and lilac vintage grosgrain trim $90...'Charleston' necklaces in amethyst and amazonite $85 each...'Pine Needles and Pinwheels' skirt in dark check, $150...'Garden Party' brooch $65...vintage full slip $40...vintage crochet gloves $25

2. 'Knitted Knickers' in oatmeal $95...'Sunny Side of the Street' head wrap $30...vintage slip $35

3. 'Evergreen' button-back peplum blouse in dusty floral $105...'Pine Needles and Pinwheels' skirt in navy fleck $150...'Charleston' necklace in green agate $85...vintage buckle adjustable grosgrain belt $35...'Regency' bird comb in two-tone green $125

4. 'Don't be Shy' combs in khaki and coral $85...'Evergreen' button-back peplum blouse in dusty floral $105...'Charleston' necklaces in rutilated quartz and black agate $85 each...'Pine Needles and Pinwheels' skirt in dark check $150...vintage buckle adjustable grosgrain belt $35

5. 'Putting on Airs' lace collar necklace in ecru with mint glass detail $55...'Regency' bird comb in noir and blanc $125

6. 'Evergreen' button-back peplum blouse in squiggle $105...'Sunny Side of the Street' headwrap made from vintage kimono fabric $30

7. 'Pine Needles and Pinwheels' skirt in stripe $150...'Misty Morning' chunky knit bow scarf in claret $55...'Bachelorette' corsage brooch $55...'Bow Tie Betty' headband $65

8. 'Pine Needles and Pinwheels' crop-sleeve swing coat $230...'Birch Trees' beret in blue with coral and lemon vintage grosgrain trim $90...'Charleson' necklaces in rose quartz and amazonite $85 each...'Pine Needles and Pinwheels' skirt in navy fleck $150...Vintage embroidered lace slip $40

 

 

Styling: Rabia Lockwood
Photography: Lyndal Irons
Hair and Makeup: Tania Bowers
Model: Gabrielle Dillon

 

 

Pinterest Picks #7

Little lovelies from the Ginny & Jude pinterest boards. We're basking in the last bit of Autumnal glow before winter well and truly swirls towards us.

{ All images from the Ginny & Jude's Pinterest boards, where all images link back to their original source }