5 Questions with…Marikit by Kitty Choy

Recently we sat down with one of our favorite designers. We have shared her stuff with you in the past but thought you might like to get to know her a bit better and see more of her work.

 

What made you first start designing and making your knits?

It all started approx. 3 years ago – paying for my wedding was killing me so I was trying to save left, right and centre. I haven’t been knitting for ages and started knitting mohair blankets for my entire bridal party. I ended up knitting around 8 blankets as thank you gifts. They were so amazed and grateful that they suggested I try selling. I decided to pick my 10 year old needles back up and started creating my one of a kind knits

Where do you get your inspiration/ favorite designer?

I totally love Isabel Marant and anything that’s colorful! One of my close friends – Zoe Irvine from The Naked Tiger is another inspiration. My style is very casual/denim/bohemian when I’m outside my 50hr working week as an Executive Assistant

What is your favorite piece?

I love ALL my Marikit babies!! And I hate parting with every piece I finish, but my favorite has to be the red shaggy and my muscle tee. The colours are just amazing and you will definitely be a talking point when you wear either piece.

If you could design/make a knit to anyone (famous, dead, fictional etc) who would it be, what would it look like and why?

Oh god – that’s a scary question to answer and haven’t really thought about it…I just j’adore Nicole Ritchie so would totally love to make her something. It would totally be another red shaggy..it’ll suit her carefree ‘I-don’t-give-a-crap-but-know-I’m-totally-looking-lush’ attitude

Where can we find you/your work?

You can can find me on Facebook, Marikit by Kitty Choy,  and at various vintage markets around Sydney. Keep an eye out on my Facebook page for my next whereabouts.

Contact me via FB or email marikit_kitty@hotmail.com for enquiries.

frankies 50th issue

I have not bought a frankie mag in a while but when I saw the cover for the 50th issue I had to have it. If you are new to Frankie click here to find out more. Basically it is a magazine filled with “great affordable fashion, sweet art, interesting reads, real people and pretty photography” it is just a super cool read!

and here is a little stop motion video of the 50th issue celebration. “It includes dancing bingo markers, mini hot dogs, a kiss-blowing Benjamin Law, rad backing music by one of our bands for the night The Good China and lots of fun and frivolity.” It was made by the amazing team at Studio Something.

They also have a sweet 2013 daily journal on sale now. Click here to check it out and feel free to send one my way! hehehe I’ll be your best friend.

*Images and video from frankie.com.au

 

When I grow up I want to be…

It’s funny that even when you grow up, have a career, your own car and maybe even your own home, there are still some childhood dreams that never leave you. I am going to share with you my fashion and makeup idols from way back, women that inspire me as a makeup artist and as an adult in this crazy world.

My first makeup idol, one whom I have idolized for most of my childhood and still to this day is the original blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe. I had her pictures plastered all over my walls, the DVD’s, the books blah blah blah and the list goes on. Any one that has known me long enough can testify that I was (am) a tad obsessed!

Marilyn always wore such timeless makeup, um hello, the classic red lip (maybe that is why I love it so much), she had a style that seemed so effortless, although at the time it was probably considered to be a bit racy. With all the constant rumors, which for the most part were negative she managed to shine. And to quote the lady herself  “we are all stars, all we ask for is our right to twinkle”.

Now when I grow up, if I could pull of a mad bob and over-sized sunglasses like this lady my life would be complete. Can you guess who it is? Only the most influential woman in fashion our time has seen da da daaaa Ms Anna Wintour. Although she isn’t know for her pleasantries (umm hello, The Devil Wears Prada was based on her) the woman sure has style, a style that I for one love!

She can be seen in the front row of all the major fashion shows and still manages to pull of  her signature look (no not cold hard*****) but a true lady of style and grace. Anna has shaped the face of fashion and has been a leading star in the magazine world for over 30 years. She was the first person to use actors and actresses on the cover of magazines, the coveted spot usually being reserved for models. Whether you like her or hate her you have to admit Ms Wintour has created something special and looks fantastic while doing so.

Making it as one of Australia top model exports and gracing hundreds of runways across the world is Miranda Kerr. Not only is she famous for being beautiful she has also caused great jealously for millions of woman around the globe by marrying Orlando Bloom.

Miranda never seems to wear very heavy makeup instead opting for the natural look, which I love! Even though achieving the ‘natural’ look is not always as simple as it sounds. Busy being so fashionable and beautiful it is a miracle that Miranda has managed to create her own organic skin care range, Kora Organics (keep your eyes open, more on this range to come).

This is in no way a complete list, if I had the space I could rant on for ages. Everyday there seems to be more and more people creating new trends and I can guarantee next week I will have a few more idols to add to the long list.

Style me Westfield!

Since having my baby I have become an almost daily regular at my local Westfield. We go because no matter what the day is like outside it is always comfortable inside. On a recent trip I had seen that Westfield was offering free 20 minute styling sessions with a Westfield stylist, and having signed up to the newsletter upon receiving my invitation I RSVP’d straight away. They kindly booked me in for a Sunday appointment.

I turned up right on time to the Style Lounge and was greeted by a very fashionable Olivia Waugh. A bit about Olivia……as a fashion stylist she has styled innumerable fashion, accessory, and celebrity shoots, she has been Fashion Editor for two of Australia’s highest selling magazines, including Executive Fashion Editor at Shop til You Drop Magazine. In 2010 Olivia became a freelance fashion stylist and has collaborated with many of the Australian fashion industry’s top photographers.

 

Being makeup artists we are always up to date on the latest trends in fashion but for me, when it comes to fashion, I am very boring. So I thought this would be a great opportunity to not only be a little bit more fashionable but it means I also get to do some shopping!

Olivia started off by determining my body shape (pear, blah) then what sort of things I wanted to wear more of. She took me through all type of tops, sleeve lengths, necklines, skirt shapes, belts,dress types and of course colours.  The biggest tip she gave me that applies to all people is to not wear tights that stop at your calf, these will make your legs look fatter than they are because it emphasises the widest part of your leg.

She finished off by highlighting the trends at the moment, pop colour, white, florals, neutrals, and suggesting the best shops for me to go to. She also said that if you aren’t sure on whats hot, shop at places like Sportsgirl or Dotti, these places are always up on the latest fashions.

I had a great time and walked away with a new confidence to buy some different styles of clothes. You can book a full style session with a Westfield stylist, so you can learn all the best tips and tricks for your body shape.

To see if the 20 minute style sessions are available at a Westfield near you, check out Westfield for all the details.

Sara Wong, Nail Artist Extraordinaire

The Makeup Case was thrilled to have the opportunity to ask Sara Wong, Nail Artist and Nail Competition Organiser at the Sydney International Spa & Beauty Expo, a few questions about the amazing world of nails.

What attracted you to a career in the nail/beauty industry?

When I was younger I used to admire my mothers beautiful nails, so I started doing nails as a bit of a hobby. The more I did it, the more I loved it, so I completed a course and got my first job as a nail artist shortly afterwards. Since then I haven’t looked back – I really enjoy the lifestyle, the work, and most importantly, the fantastic and interesting people who I get to meet everyday.

What is your can’t live without product of all time?

There are probably two products I cannot live without, the first would have to be my iPhone (it pretty much has my whole life organised on it), the second would have to be lip balm.

What is your best tip for a smooth running event/competition?

Ha – if you have any great tips then please let me know. It may seem like everything is smooth running to the public and the competitors, but behind the scenes it can be really hectic. In the end it all comes down to having a great team of people all working together to produce a great event.

What criteria were you looking for in entrants in the competition?

This competition attracts the best nail artists from Australia and Internationally, so in order to stand out from the crowd, not only do you need to have flawless technique, you also need to have a passion for pushing the boundaries and creating designs that are contemporary and innovative.

How did the competition designs compare or differ from last year?

The most obvious difference was that the technical standards are continuing to improve each year and that is a great thing to see – this competition is all about encouraging nail artists to keep improving each year. We also added a new competition category, “Fantasy Runway”, where we saw the competitors go above and beyond to create a whole look for their models based on their nail designs.

What is the most creative/interesting nail design you have seen?

To be honest, some of the most creative and interesting nail designs that I have seen were in this years Fantasy Runway competition – I was blown away by talent and execution of ideas by a number of the competitors.

What nail trends can we expect to see for the coming season?

Well I am from Melbourne so I am always hoping that black polish will be all the rage haha. Putting my serious fashion cap on for a moment…I think we will see more dusty metallic tones like dirty rose pinks and tarnished golds and browns for a while. However I think as the weather warms up, people will be back to bright yellows, pinks, corals and blues.

What do you think about the rise of gel polishes like Shellac and Bio Sculpture?

Each product has its benefits. Gel polishes are great for people who wear the same colour polish for extended periods of time and therefore require resistance against chipping – traditional polishes may not last as long but they can be applied quickly and changed just as fast. Personally, I think it is great to see alternative products to the traditional polishes come onto the market – the more choices we can give our clients the better!

As a nail artist, what is something that people do to their nails that really frustrates you?

I am a firm believer in wearing nails as a fashion accessory. All too often, people make the mistake of matching the colour of their nails with their lipstick and outfit – make your nails a fashion statement! And don’t get me started on unpolished toe nails…haha.

What are some basic nail care tips?

It may sound obvious, but the best thing that people can do for their nails is to eat a well-balanced diet – eating right can really help to build strong healthy nails. Also, make sure you give your nails a quick file at least once a week followed by the application of a good quality cuticle oil (like Handbag Holiday Cuticle Oil by Butter London), not only does this remove any chips, it also stimulates nail growth.

 

 

 

 

Beauty Expo – Catwalk Shows

Beauty Expo’s main stage was host to catwalk shows with the hottest looks in fashion, makeup and nail for Spring/Summer 2011. We managed to get front row seats for two of the shows. The Pure & Natural and Pop Colour

Pure & Simple – Fresh, sleek  minimal pieces in neutrals, whites and creams. I could see myself in one of these flowing dresses on a Summery afternoon with a glass of wine and some good company, very comfortable looking pieces.

The hair was very textured and swept to the side in a chunky, messed up side plait. Make up was quite natural with a nude lip.Pop Colour – I love a bit of colour and this collection did not disappoint. From searing orange to sexy scarlet and cool cobalt blue everyone needs one of these pieces in their wardrobe.

The hair was pulled back in a sleek low bun. The makeup was well defined eyes with a splash of colour and bold pink lips.

Nails by: 

Makeup by:

Hair by:

Clothing by:
2shae,  Becker, bronx and banco, By Johnny, Elliatt, Gossip Couture, Gypsea Swimwear, Khamoda, Lisa Kelly Swimwear, Love and Anarchy, Show Pony, Phax Swimwear, Pigalle Boutique, Tighttigers