Winners Profile & Photoshoot
Nickitar Omondi – March’s Top-Voted Models Don’t Do Pretty
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“I’m not sure I have a specific definition for my personal style…but I’m passionate about impeccable sense of style and I want that to reflect in the way I dress.” says Nickitar Omondi, top-voted style favourite for March.
Twenty-five year old Nickitar arrived in Australia two years ago from Kenya to take up studies in marketing. While here, she’s also been developing and designing a range of light weight luxe coats. We’d snapped Nickitar around the streets of Adelaide for our weekly street style gallery more than once, and it was Nickitar’s second snap that topped your vote.
A great fit for new label Don’t Do Pretty, the creatives behind the Adelaide-based label, Eloise Houseman and Rebel Freeman wanted Nickitar to choose her own outfits for the model shoot. It was important for them that Nickitar liked what she was wearing and felt comfortable modelling them.
Photographed by Dimitra Koriozos out front of hip underground venue Published Art House in Adelaide’s west, Nickitar owned the streets in her outfit choices and went home with a very stylish Aboriginal print narrow leg pant, courtesy of the designers.
“I did not anticipate a win but I can say I’m very excited about my shoot. Thank you so much to everyone involved.”
Look 1: Aboriginal Print
Halter Neck Top: The New Syndicate
Wide Leg Pant: Santa Teresa
Bomber Jacket: Lets Get Carried Away
Look 2 : Leather
Leather Bustier: Diana Prince
Pencil Skirt: Kill Them With Confidence
Sleeveless Jacket: Ain’t Nobodys Business
Look 3 : Metallics
Silver Tee: Unleash The Lion
Silk Shorts: End Up Somewhere in Mexico
Look 4: Silver Top & Black Maxi
Maxi Skirt: Dressed to Impress
Halter Top: The New Syndicate Silver Leather
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Paolo Sebastian Like You’ve Never Seen – Street Style in Adelaide
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We first spotted 25-year-old Nickitar Omondi in March, strutting down Union St in Adelaide’s East End in a striking two piece suit and yellow pumps.
The Kenyan born designer and final year marketing student topped the vote as your style favourite that same month, and has since had the opportunity to model one of the breathtaking creations by South Australian couture wunderkind Paul Vasileff of Paolo Sebastian.
“When I saw that Nickitar was going to be the model, I instantly thought of this dress, as the soft pink colour would look incredible against her skin tone,” said Vasileff, who is currently also the Young Australian of the Year.
“While it’s a very soft and feminine silhouette, modern motifs like the side slit and choker compliment Cocktail Revolution’s street style aesthetic.”
Describing herself as having “champagne taste,” Nickitar said the gown, which took 100 hours to make(!), felt as though it was made for her.
Photographer Dimitra Koriozos shot Nickitar wearing the Beaded Chantilly Dress in the streets of Adelaide, Vasileff’s home town.
You’ve never seen Paolo Sebastian like this before – street style in Adelaide!
See more Paolo Sebastian gowns up close in our behind-the-scenes story from the Adelaide Fashion Festival here.
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Jess Bicanski – May’s Top-Voted Styled In Leonard St
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Melbourne is synonymous with killer coffee, unpredictable weather and, of course, an inordinate amount of black clothing sported by locals all year round. So when our street style photographer Zoe Kostopoulos happened across Jess Bicanski, dressed head-to-toe in white (bar a pair of rainbow socks), she couldn’t resist asking for a snap.
“When Zoe approached to take my photo, I thought she was going to ask me for public transport advice and all I could think was “Oh no, I am the worst person to ask for this kind of thing!” I was very pleasantly surprised when that wasn’t the case and instead I was being recognised for my style – I also love having my photo taken so we had some good fun.”
Jess’s look went on to top the vote for May and as we got to learn a little more about her, we discovered 19 year old Jess, of Serbian and English decent, had only just moved to Melbourne via Tasmania. We should have guessed!
We caught up with Jess just a few days shy of her 21st birthday for her featured photoshoot with Leonard St, styled by the incredible staff (dubbed ‘retail angels’ by Jess herself) at their Gertrude St store.
“I wasn’t familiar with the work of Leonard St prior to my shoot. However, I had walked past and been transfixed by their gorgeous pink store.
I was so pleased to be asked to contribute suggestions for what outfits we should try for the shoot – I feel pretty cosy in front of a camera but it’s even better when it’s in clothes that you love so it was so lovely to be able to have the freedom to choose my favourite pieces.
I loved the use of print and colour through their collection – lots of beautiful shades of blue, green and my favourite, pink! I thought the garments were made with such thought and care, even down to the lining and the fastening details (did someone say necktie?)”
Jess was in her element as she dodged the rain between poses, our photographer shambling after her with considerably less grace (you see, Jess is a dancer).
With a personality every bit as vibrant as the eclectic prints Leonard St is adored for, our top-voted for May is all smiles – and has us doing the same.
Jess wears:
Look 1: Crushed Funnel Sweater, Autumn Pinafore, Fundamental Raincoat, Mixed Lollies Beanie
Look 2: Manhattan Wide Leg Trousers, Sparkle Top, Frayed Denim Jacket
Look 3: True Colours Velvet Culottes, Snap Top, Augustus Coat, Snake Ball Scarf
Look 4: Eventful Jumpsuit, Pink Lady Coat
April’s Top-Voted Laura Cortes in Shoot for Anthea Crawford
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Not many people get snapped for a street style shot – or any other shot – when they’re at work taking out the rubbish. But that’s exactly what Mexican born Laura Cortes was doing when spotted by our Melbourne street style photographer Zoe, in Swanston Street. “I was literally at work taking out the rubbish, very glam ha ha !” she laughs.
An Aussie for the last two years by a combination of destiny and choice, Laura recently moved from Adelaide to Melbourne where she’s signed with Pride Models.
How did she find out she’s topped the vote? “A friend tagged me on the Facebook post and at first I just thought he had spotted me on the best dressed list. It was later that I realised I was top voted. I had just moved to Melbourne and I followed Cocktail Revolution in Adelaide so it felt like a sign that relocating was a good move.
I remember waking up that Sunday, walking to work and feeling happy and confident. Then, one of your beautiful photographers approached me and captured that moment. It was pretty cool to win and be taken back to that day. Thank you! …and also pretty excited.
I hadn’t worn Anthea Crawford before and yes, they specialise in mother of the bride styles, but they’re more than that. I was really impressed by the super flattering tailoring and quality of the fabrics. The garments are designed and produced in Australia and I noticed that Anthea Crawford is a member of Ethical Clothing Australia. I think these are elements of fashion that deserve recognition and support.
My favourite piece was the velvet flares. I’ll be going back for those!
Freya (Stylist) and Dimitra (Photographer) make a killer team. They are so natural at translating a mode into an image. We were after a street style feel to the shoot despite the more dressed up aesthetic of the clothes. Freya paired feminine pieces with edgier accessories while Dimitra scouted for locations to complement the styling,. Meanwhile, I managed the lipstick changes and my best blue steel look…pretty hard when those two kept cracking jokes. We bonded straight away and it felt like a genuinely fun hangout with friends, so of course we had to follow up with wines!”
White Top: Ivory Satin Crepe Top
Black Pants: Velour Wide Leg Pant
Jumpsuit: Navy Crepe Jumpsuit
Tuxedo Cape & Skirt: Richmond Clearance Store
Floral Dress: Jacquard Dress
Other Pieces: Anthea Crawford Richmond Clearance Store, 193 Bridge Road, Richmond, Victoria,
03 94281670
Stylist – Freya Myles. Photographer – Dimitra Koriozos
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February’s Top-Voted Joselle Singson Models NYC Label TOME
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Strutting down Toorak Road, Melbourne, in a pair of navy Charles and Keith mules and breezy culottes, twenty-four year old Joselle Singson looked completely unaffected by the soaring February heat.
Naturally, one of our photographers shambled after the polka-dot clad vision and asked to take her photograph for our street style gallery. Confused albeit flattered, Joselle stopped for a quick snap before continuing on her way to her boyfriend’s birthday dinner in town.
At the month’s close, and much to her surprise, Joselle, of Japanese-Filipino descent, was informed that her look had racked up the highest number of votes from our followers and she was subsequently selected to model a range of garments from New York based women’s wear label Tome.
As it turns out, the pairing was a match made in style heaven.
“I am enamoured with their silhouettes and colour palette! I feel like these are the kinds of clothes the ideal me would be wearing to both my fancy CBD office and then straight out for cocktails with just a change of lipstick at most,” gushed Joselle about Tome’s current collection.
With their emphasis on form and function, it’s no surprise that Tome’s pieces resonate with a woman on the go, never sacrificing practicality in the pursuit of clear-cut style – essential dressing for the ‘every woman’.
Australian-born Ryan Lobo and Ramon Martin are the duo behind the label, receiving plaudits for their strides towards sustainability and collections which truly embrace the needs of the busy modern woman. With celebrity fans including Sarah Jessica Parker, Amal Clooney and Tilda Swinton, Tome has secured a place in the New York style scene and beyond and we were thrilled to feature their designs for the first time in our monthly fashion shoot.
Photographed in Chapel Street South Yarra by Adelaide photographer Dimitra Koriozos and styled by Melbourne-based Freya Myles, Joselle looked every bit the Tome woman.
