Kissin Cussin - sustainable & fabulous

I'm soooo excited to announce Ciao Meow is now an exclusive online stockist of this utterly gorgeous Australian fashion label. Not only are these girls brilliant designers, they also have a strong social conscience and design and manufacture their collections ethically and sustainably for the environment and all involved. As easy on your conscience as they are to wear, their clothes have an eclectic, colourful and playful style that we just LOVE at Ciao Meow!

They have also very generously made divine daisy headbands that come FREE WITH EVERY KISSIN CUSSIN PURCHASE at Ciao Meow! Woohoo! We love a freebie - do you need any other reason to shop??

Well check out these other gorgeous creations, available now...

Rimini Halter Maxi Dress - stunning, backless and very sexy. Grrrr!

Ama Shift Dress - a gorgeous peach & white print, this dress is fun and flirty.

Renu Mini Dress - love the frill shoulders, wear it off the shoulder to be a little more seductive. Meow!

Run by cousins Jess Brown and Hayley Maynard, the Kissin Cussin label began following work as volunteers in a small village in the south of Sri Lanka after the devastating tsunami struck and shattered its idyllic coastline. Their love affair with Sri Lanka began immediately - its colour, its beauty and its people. Realising they could do more for this tranquil yet economically repressed community, they combined their love of fashion to develop KissinCussin - a creative venture with unique production methods ethically and intrinsically linked to the people of Talalla Bay.

Weaving their outlook into their fabrics, they use quality cottons and natural fibres from India, supporting old-fashioned hand-printing methods in Rajasthan. Love represents the way that KissinCussin’s garments are made, by local ladies in a small village, tucked away in one charming part of our world. “The socially sustainable ethics behind KissinCussin are what we continue to stand for and work towards improving.”

Ahhh, we heart Kissin Cussin!

Happy shopping & ciao for now,
Ciao Meow xxx

Add some tribal to your Summer Wardrobe

Embrace your inner Rrrooarrr with these sexy African inspired pieces from Shona Joy's Summer collection. Just in at Ciao Meow, these little gems add instant glam to your summer style.

• Wear this Out of Africa Mini Dress with some nude heels for extra long legs and minimal accessories - the bright print and sexy cutouts make this dress busy enough.

• Wear this gorgeous Into the Wild Jumpsuit with some summer wedges and a cuff, then add a statement necklace for night time glam. Loose flowing hair is just right.

• Wear this stunning Into the Wild Cocktail Dress with monochromatic accessories - think black peeptoes for a feminine take or ankle boots for a rock edge. Minimal jewellery needed - a few bangles or a pendant would be nice. A belt can be added at your discretion - peronally, I prefer it without.

SHOP NOW...

Want some style advice? Have a special occassion you need to dress for? Ask Ciao Meow's resident stylist - we can help you find the perfect outfit!

Contact Us Here...

Ciao for now and happy shopping!
Ciao Meow >^..^<

Spring Races - What to wear

My picks for the Races this Spring....

Tali Roth - Barbie's Dream Dress

• One shouldered, to the knee in 3 gelati hue's = on trend and oh so elegant
• Pair it back with nude heels (as per model), simple hair & accessories - you want to let this gorgeous dress speak for itself!

Shona Joy - Tahitian Affair Silk Kimono Dress

• The gorgeous purple floral print is just gorgeous and perfect for Spring, the covered shoulders hints of conservative while the short hemline adds some sexy glamour.
• Pair back with black/nude heels for a more subtle take or eye-popping yellow heels as per model (there's a beautiful touch of yellow in the floral that complements the heels)

Kuku - Bow Dress

• Just a sweet, classic little frock that can do no wrong. Sweetheart neckline makes it very flattering, as does the full skirt, while the melon self tie sash adds a delightful splash of spring colour.
• Pair it with some silver or melon shoes & clutch and some pretty drop earrings.

Tali Roth - Silk Sweetheart Dress

• In eye-popping colours, this dress will ensure you are belle of the ball! errr, races, in this case!
• Neutral accessories is all that's required, this dress needs room to shine, so keep it simple. How easy is that?

Want some more? Check out the fabulous frocks available now at Ciao Meow and feel free to contact us if you would like some shopping assistance - we'd be delighted to help :)

Ciao for now and happy shopping!
Ciao Meow xx

Bracewell - easy wardrobe essentials for Spring.

Having been in the industry for over 2 decades, Michael Bracewell knows a thing or two about women's fashion, delivering season after season delicious wardrobe essentials and simple basics, with loyal customers returning again and again for his classic style aesthetic.

His Spring 2009 collection doesn't disappoint, in fact, he get's it oh so right this season, with a fresh, perhaps dare I say, slightly younger take on the easy, relaxed, layering pieces he is renowned for. This sublime collection of essentials work back with multiple items in your wardrobe. And look equally fabulous on their own, for that matter!

Above are two of my favourites - the Memphis Fringe Dress in Grey, also available in black - equally gorgeous and a little dressier. I see this dress as an essential weekender - you'll find yourself wearing it constantly as it's so easy and comfortable. Pair it back with some summer sandals or flats (try some connies like the model), grab your sunnies and weekend bag (have you seen Kim Regan's handbags, below) and you're pretty much good to go. Just add a little cardi or vest (try the Draped Vest in cream, below) if there's still a chill in the air. And for those of you who don't like short dresses, wear it back with leggings or jeans (just scrunch it up a bit round the waist, looks great as a singlet too!).

Also on my hitlist is the Prairie Vest, with it's luxe take on woodstock hippie (very hot this season). Wear it back with shorts and a little Tee for summer - the vest adds instant glam to this simple combo. Or if you want to rock the look a little more, wear it back with dark jeans and a sexy little black top/singlet with some heavy metal accessories. It's all about adding your own style!

There are more gorgeous pieces from this collection available now at Ciao Meow - be sure to check them out, your wardrobe will thank you for it!

Ciao for now,
Ciao Meow xxx

The Perfect Summer Tote

Is there ever really a perfect bag?

Hmmm, it's a ponderous question, one I have given much thought to. I'm thinking, no, seeing as changing bags according to outfits is like style is to the French (that would be second nature!). And really, so it should be, for variety is the paprika of life. Or something like that...

Which is why I love updating my handbag collection each season, and this Spring is no exception. So what am I choosing for my fashion foray into warmer weather?

Well, I'm loving a bit of print, a bit of bohemian luxe, some embellishment and somethin' a little different. Cue my picks (above).

New to Ciao Meow this season are Kim Regan Handbags, handcrafted and designed by the lovely Kim herself, who happens to be a very cool Interior Designer and all round super stylish lady we like to love! One of the many things I love about Kim's designs is the cool graphic print on each bag - you won't believe me, but each bag hosts a completely unique, one-off canvas print, hand-embellished with beads. That's right ladies, one-off, never to be seen again, print. Meaning - no one will ever have the same bag as you! Yeah, you read right, no one!

Which is why I love these bags. Being a perveyer of all things precious (in a totally non Gollum-like way, I promise!), I naturally had to have one (ok six) of these bags the minute I saw them. But I also very kindly shared them with my Ciao Meow friends (that would be you!), which I thought was very kind of me! But seriously, if you want a great style refresher for Spring and you're sick of having the same bag/clothes/accessories as the general pop, then log on now and grab yourself one of these exclusive designs. Be quick, there's only 5 left!

Ciao for now,
Ciao Meow xxx

Blue - A perfect hue for Spring

Blue is such a gorgeous colour for Spring - it epitomises blue skies, warmer days and the gorgeous hue's of the ocean... hmmm, you can almost feel that warm sun and taste the salty goodness of a fresh swim! Perhaps that's why blue is such a feel-good colour - it reminds us of so many happy things and in colour psychology, it's a colour for calming and optimism. I love that! And what a fabulous way to inject some happiness into your every day, directly through your wardrobe (especially great if you're stuck in an office and there's no chance of that summery swim! doh).

Yet despite the fabulous associations to this special colour, I always thought blue didn't suit me. I always believed it was a colour exclusive to blonde's with blue eyes and gorgeous luminous skin. So me, being of the green eyed brunette with pale skin variety, always steered clear. However I have since learnt, much to my excitement, that it's all in the hue! Who knew? (No rhyme intended!)

So it seems, mid blues are much more for me (think soft chambreys & duck egg blues), while those gorgeous blonde girls look stunning in cold, crispy blues. Though really, they could pretty much get away with any blue and still look fabulous (yes ok, I'm a bit jealous). And what about those fiery flame haired stunners out there - I'd suggest you go for a more saphire, gemstone blue, even more beautiful if you've got blue eyes!

So you see, there really is a blue out there for everyone (c'mon, who hasn't got a pair of blue denim jeans or 10 in their closet?), and with so many happy associations to this gorgeous, versatile and super summery colour, how can you resist? So what are my picks for this luscious colour? My faves are the Bless'ed are the Meek Urban Safari Dress, Tali Roth's Prom Night Dress and Shona Joy's Tiki Lace Frill Dress - all available at Ciao Meow for your wearing pleasure! So go, shop, what are you waiting for? Inject some colour happy therapy into your wardrobe, this very instant!

Happy shopping and ciao for now,
Ciao Meow xxx

Ciao Meow heads to Brisbane Fashion Festival

Well it was with much excitement that I frocked up and headed along to Brisbane Fashion Festival for the first Group Show, held in Brisbane City Hall. The venue itself was gorgeous and very grand, as were the attendees. Brisbane's fashion elite were out and boy was it fabulous fashion watching! Outfits varied from skinny jeans & cami's to cocktail frocks and long maxi dresses (somebordering on formal dresses)! All in all though, I am pleased to say Brisbanista's are on the whole, simply fabulous and if I do say so myself, very stylish!

So what did I wear? Well, it was a tough decision that came down to 2 Shona Joy Dresses - the Tahitian Affair Tank Dress and the Stranded Summer Tab Dress. In the end, the weather was a deciding factor - the Tank dress was to be worn back with a little black blazer, while the Summer Tab dress was to be worn on it's own. As Brisbane had a record breaking hot day for August, the Summer Tab dress won out! Not to mention I am very partial to a LBD. So I pared this deceptively simple dress back with some tan accessories - peep toe wedges, a leather cuff, Lisa Marinucci earrings and a vintage clutch. Make up was kept simple with a nice dark defined eye (actually was running extremely short of time, so had to be simple! Lucky it was my plan all along!). My dear friend and fellow fashion lover Mel, also attended and supportingly wore a gorgeous Ciao Meow dress, a Fleur Wood Vera Dress from a few seasons ago. With her blonde pixie cut and blue eye's she looked stunning, as usual. You can't beat a classic Fleur Wood.

So what about the show? Well it was glorious. Akira revealed his latest collection, which consisted of beautiful cobalt blue's, oranges and reds, mixed with blacks, creams and whites, long and flowing and draped to perfection. Feature flowers decorated the shoulders of these stunning models as they glided past in the sweetest red sandals. It was simply divine, as you'd expect from this talented designer. Then Carmague, a Brisbane boutique, showcased some of their best selling international designers including Dries Van Noten, Martin Margiela and more, which were of course, stunning, though a little more mature in taste. But fabulous none the less!

Then of course to conclude the show was Brisbane design duo, Easton Pearson. Now I am a huge fan to begin with and this show didn't disappoint. True to form, patterns, brights and kaftans ruled the evening and I was lost in a world of exotic poolside parties (well, that's where I was imagining wearing these delightful concoctions!). Gorgeous paisley prints, long flowing caftans, orange capri pants and leggings, ruffle dresses, printed singlets, bright waisted belts and embelished neckpieces draped loosley round the models, even hanging down their backs, stole the show for me. I was oohing and ahhing my little heart out!

All in all, it was a perfect evening, finished with a Napoleon Perdis gift bag (a nice new lip gloss in berry red) and a champagne at the Sebel bar (to conclude our fashion watch - my favourite was Kirsty Clements of Vogue Australia and the lovely ladies of Easton Pearson who looked divine in their own creations!) before ending the evening. My gorgeous Shona Joy dress held up very well in the style stakes, proving itself to be a modern take on a great classic - I was very proud to be representing Ciao Meow!

For some great pics of the show, visit the gallery at www.mbff.com.au. If you were there or are going to the other shows, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Enjoy and ciao for now,
Ciao Meow xxx