Chanel Haute Couture

All Photos: courtesy of style.com and Chanel

Only few can afford, many others can dream but all can take influence from the age old tradition of haute couture. Chanel showed this week in Paris a romantic mix of pastels and silver in satin, tweed, lace and tulle. I predict more satin come ready to wear shows next month. Below some of the facts on the exquisite details that go into a couture dress.

Runway Look 37 "grenade" cape: 700 hours of work

Finale look with model Abbey Lee

Wedding Dress and cape: 1300 hours of work in total

Melbourne Boy

DVD available from Amazon

I watched this DVD last year about incredible fashion photographer, Helmut Newton, a master in his field, he was also a very witty character. Being in Melbourne today, I was reminded of this DVD and my revelation that at the age of 20, Helmut Newton, spent over 17 years in Melbourne where he married his life long wife June Browne (also a photographer), known under the ironic pseudonym of Alice Springs.

Happy Australia Day

Photo: Roger Deckker

Four of the most stylish and incredibly talented expats where recently in town. We took these portraits, asked them some questions and truely enjoyed their company whilst they were here.

Gabriele Hackworthy, Creative Consultant, London

All Portraits: Patrick Mcgreal for Style Me Romy

Gabriele wears vintage YSL shirt, A.P.C shorts, Marc Jacobs scarf, Azzedine Alaia shoes, Cartier Love Bracelet, Chanel watch and charm bracelet.

When Australian born, Gabriele, flies into Sydney from London she is overcome with pure happiness, and it's the same for me. I love when Gab arrives it's non stop amusement, her stamina and excitement far surpasses mine and leaves me shattered by the time she leaves. She's a chic friend but equally impressive is the killer Pavlova she makes.

Previously Fashion Director for three Vogue titles, Australia, Japan and China she's a wealth of inspiration. I asked her some questions...

R: Current Occupation?

G: Creative Consultant

R: Most exciting job you've ever worked on?

G: Shooting Kate Moss with Mario Sorrenti

R: Who are some of you favourite Australian designers?

G: I love Zimmermann swimsuits and R.M. Williams boots

R: What goes with you everywhere?

G: My Rimowa suitcase

Photo: Mario Sorrenti courtesy of China Vogue

Louisa Gent, Creative Director, NYC

Louisa wears: Therese Rawsthorne Dress, Proenza Schouler shoes and Pink Lou Lou necklaces

Photo: Roger Deckker

Louisa Gent wears her Pink Lou Lou Australia necklace with pride through the streets of Manhattan. Now living in the Chelsea Louie rarely travels without her bikini's and her mac, preferring to leave the latter behind.

Her favorite Australian designers are Zimmermann, Yeojin Bae, Anna & Boy and Karla Spetic.

Commuting the world for her design work, she's recently found reward in volunteering time to aid work in different country's.

Pink Lou Lou necklace

Melina Kok, Art Director, NYC

Melina wears: Isabel Marant top, Balenciaga skirt, YSL shoes and trinkelts from all over the place.

Photo: Roger Deckker

Melina escapes from a New York winter by coming home to Sydney, she loves the casual laid back beach holiday feeling. Art Directing GAP campaigns with one of my all time favourite photographer Mikael Jansson, Melina loves what she does for a living, even when she hates it. Her favourite Australian designers are Tina Kalivas and Ian Nessick. When flying into Sydney Melina's first thoughts are "I need a cigarette!". She always travels with her Comme des garcon perfume, iphone, a good book , black pashmina from her Dad and Dermalogica skin purifying wipes.

Brana Wolf, Stylist and Design Consultant and Contributing Fashion Editor, NYC

Brana Wolf and me

What can I say, Brana is one of the most recognised stylist in the world. As contributing editor for Harper's Bazaar (US) and Italian Vogue and working on Versace and Dolce & Gabbana campaigns, she has the most impressive career. She travels extensively for work through Europe, however resides in New York. Brana comes home every Christmas to her place in Tamarama and can't wait to eat a mango and go for a swim, defining a Sydney summer as "good food, the beach and not having to dress up".

Some of her favorite Australian designers are Ksubi, Willow, Jayson Brundson and Romance was Born. She doesn't travel without e-lyte (electrolytes you add to water), rosehip oil, iphone, macbook, dvd's and meditation beads.

Photo courtesy of Italian Vogue

Image courtesy of Harpers Bazaar, US

Photo courtesy of Italian Vogue

Brana Wolf is among today's top stylists, featured in Stylist, The Interpreters of Fashion available from Amazon Books.

..more images from Hermes by Harold David

Yasmin Sewell

Miranda Otto and I

Hermes Petit Journal de la Soie

Miranda Otto wears Therese Rawsthorne from Blood Orange, Hermes scarf and cuff.

Necklace Jan Logan

I wear Maje and Hermes scarf

It was a spectacular evening at the Hermes Petit Journal de la Soie. Sand, no shoes and champagne flowing it was so fantastic Karin, (Managing Director of Hermes, Australia) was finding it difficult to get people to leave!

Creative consultant, Yasmin Sewell, styled up the classic Hermes silk scarves on all guests who then patiently posed for pictures. A great fashion icon herself, London based, Sewell looked amazing as always.

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My fellow stylist friends, Peter Simon Phillips, Yasmin Sewell and Anna Hewett.

Louise Van De Vorst

Photo's: Patrick Mcgreal For Style Me Romy

Hair: Renya Xydis Makeup: Noni Smith

Louise wears faux fur coat she made from scratch.

Yes she's a successful model and yes she's known as Daniel Johns (Silverchair) girlfriend, but Louise Van De Vorst is so much more. With ambitions of being a future fashion designer, the 21 year old from the Sunshine Coast, is as sweet as a button and loaded with potential.

Louise in one of her own designs a hand sewn skeleton top, inspired by body parts. The necklace was a Christmas gift from John's mother a vintage pin cushion in the shape of a bird.

The team

Shot at Studiotwenty4

Behind the scenes of our Love All shoot for Style Me Romy.

Love All

The Australian Open is upon us and I enjoy my tennis immensely.

They say it's a fashion crowd sport made famous by Miss Wintour, but unlike Andre Leon Tally's backhand I take my tennis quite seriously.

All Photo's: Patrick Mcgreal for Style Me Romy

Hair: Renya Xydis Makeup: Noni Smith

Model: Louise Van De Vorst from Chic

Louise wears: Hermes clothing and accessories - Rings: Woodford &Co

Avid tennis player and Hermes Australia's Managing Director, Karin Upton Baker, laughed when I asked if she had any influence over designer Jean Paul Gaultier's champion collection for Hermes. We both share our passion for tennis and coach Rory Miles at Rushcutters Bay Tennis Center.

Louise wears: Woodford & Co cardigan - Stolen Girlfriends Club shorts - Hermes belt and watch

Louise wears: Burberry trench- Sretsis blouse - Life with Bird denim shirt - Ralph Lauren shorts - Hermes belt and watch - Woodford & Co rings - Adidas trainers

Louise wears: Wrangler shirt - Life with Bird dress - Sretsis ring

Burberry

George Craig - frontman of the band One Night Only.

The classic trench coat - It's one of the first things I look for when I style my personal clients.

Burberry's lastest campaign is a recipe of pure casual cool, with all the ingredients... An English actress, her cute brother, a couple of indie muso's, shoulder pads and a genius photographer. Another triumph for creative director Christopher Bailey.

Emma Watson and her brother, Alex.

(Left - Right) Max Hurd , George Craig and Matt Gilmour (Seated) Alex Watson

(Left - Right) Christopher Bailey and Mario Testino

All images courtesy of Burberry

Philip Riches

All images photographed by Philip Riches

I met London based photographer Philip Riches last year. Working with Philip was a great experience professionally and personally, his colourful and affectionate stories made you sit up and listen.

Lara Stone

Lara Stone

"Lara's one of the most special girls I know, a feisty funny loving character and the closest thing I have to a little sister in Europe. She has created LARA STONE through intelligence and hard work. I have been shooting her for 8 years, since she was a baby. I recently did a great little story with her and after lunch I even put her to bed for a little nap". -Philip Riches.

Patricia Paay

"Patricia is a friend of mine. She is 60 (the oldest model photographed for Playboy). I had never done Playboy before. She is also one of the most famous woman in Holland and it felt like I was holding government plans in my harddrive, the public interest was so great. It was the most overwhelming experience of my career, but also one of the most special". - Philip Riches.

Doutzen

Lisa Rutledge, Model Icon

Lisa Rutledge in French Vogue circa early 80's

Photo: Horst

"OMG it's Lisa Rutledge", I was recently shooting with photographer Philip Riches when he let out a terrific scream. The Australian model icon of the 80's, he fondly remembers one of her interviews with 60 minutes and can quote her answers to this day. He's followed Lisa's career for years and now she's standing directly in front of him as studio manager at Studiotwenty4.

Lisa kindly allowed Philip to take these images for Style Me Romy. She looks fantastic.

Lisa Rutledge, Studio twenty4, 2010

Photo: Philip Riches for Style Me Romy

Lisa wears Ksubi

Photos: Richard Bailey, Australian Vogue 1984/85

Lisa has remained great friends with Richard Bailey, who shot her for this cover with her daughter Roxanne Marie, who has her own blog www.ispywithmylileye.com.

And with a world class mother like Lisa, a father in the business, and once stepmother Linda Evangelista, Roxanne too has an edge on fashion.

Australian vogue circa mid 80's

After 30 years away Lisa's time was mostly spent in Paris, New York and a brief stint in L.A where her friends at the time included Paulina Porizkova, Cindy Crawford, Jerry Hall, Gia Carangi and Iman. She worked on numerous campaigns for Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Chloe and Chanel. Lisa told me amazing stories of her and model Tara Shannon kidnapping Jack Nicholson and once during a long fitting at Valentino, she listened to Skyhooks on her Sony walkman while Brooke Shields sat on the floor and played with her Barbies.

Karen Walker Clothing, Jewellery & More...

Photo: Philip Riches for Style Me Romy

Hair and Make up: Max May

Model: Juliana from Chic

Karen Walker bracelet $490, the perfect accessory to toughen up a pretty dress.

I have always been a fan of Karen Walker, and so is Gossip's front Beth Ditto (who I am dying to see at Good Vibrations festival).

I chatted with Karen about spending New Years in her hometown New Zealand and her extensive travel schedule, which you can keep a track of on the website runaway, a collaboration of travel experiences from Karen and friends.

Her inspiration for SS2010, all lies in - a 60's take on Edwardiana seaside- the all navy blazers, tan chinos and stripe T-shirts.

My favourite look

Karen's favourite look "our shrunken navy double breasted blazers with the cream trim, I'm definitely getting one of those".

Karen Walker backstage at her SS10 show in NYC, September 2009.

"I show in New York because it just feels right- our aesthetic fits into the New York mood perfectly, plus it's my favourite city and any excuse to visit there twice a year is good for me."