the way she wears it

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of styling Julie Goodwin for a clothing label (which I will release when the ad campaign comes out). I am a huge fan of Masterchef and was extremely excited to be working with the winner from last season.

Julie was an absolute pleasure to work with. Sweet, funny, talkative, happy to be changed in and out of outfits, prodded and poked to make the outfit sit perfectly. She even discussed my new kitchen fit out with me and told me how to make perfect rice. (I can cook lots of things but rice I always screw up)

The location house we shot in was in Newport and was gorgeous. We entered it via a hill lift which was fun with all the clothing, props etc.

The day got even better when we witnessed dolphins and whales from the view.

A few behind the scenes images. Stay tuned for the actual ad campaign which I will put up soon.

Lydia xx

The view and the table setting. I love jobs where I not only style the clothes but I do the props, table settings, flowers etc (in this image I had only just started doing the table)

Julie, myself and make up artist Annette McKenzie

Photographer, Christopher Tovo working his magic

Dolphins

Julie and me at the end of the shoot.

I am often asked what it is like working on fashion shoots. This is a pretty extreme one, considering we had 11 models but it’s a pretty good indication. Check out the video.

http://www.vimeo.com/13075064

Earlier this morning, actress Katrina Bowden appeared on Sunrise and The Morning Show.

Katrina plays the sexy and sometimes ditzy secretary to Tina Fey’s character Liz Lemon.

I am a massive fan of 30 Rock (I admit to having a bit of a crush on Alec Baldwin) so was very excited when I was given the job of styling her for these appearances and a few others (which I will blog about as they happen)

Katrina is in Sydney as the face of Wish Clothing. She is shooting the Spring campaign.

She has been an absolute pleasure to work with so far and I am looking forward to styling her next week for some magazines which I can’t reveal yet.

Katrina on Sunrise. She is wearing:

Wish Score dress in peach which you can buy online at Alibi here or in Wish stores around Australia

Lydia Jewels Monique necklace which you can buy here

Lydia Jewels Brooke earrings which you can buy here

Katrina on The Morning Show. She is wearing:

Wish Proxy top in blue which you can buy online at Alibi here or in Wish stores around Australia

Wish leather skirt which you can buy in Wish stores around Australia

Lydia Jewels Rachel necklace which you can buy here

Lydia Jewels Rani bracelet which you can buy here

Katrina’s make up and hair for both shows was done by Rachel Montgomery

xx

Hi guys,

My new website went live yesterday and I am getting some fantastic feedback.

Would love you guys to let me know what you think. It has a lot of new work that was not on my old site.

A huge thank you to the very talented Darryn Jones from RocketFuel Industries who created it.

He is also the man behind my Lydia Jewels jewellery site. I highly recommend him for any web work.

Here is the website .. have a look http://www.lydiajanesaunders.com/

It was only a few weeks ago that I was complaining to a photographer that Sydney has very few interesting studios. Sure Sun, Luxe, Mondo Digital et al are fabulous for shoots but I miss the quirky, interesting, small studios that I used to work from in London. Until I turned up to Studio Neon (sometimes also known as Infinity) for the SES Clothing ad campaign.

It is an awesome studio with fantastic props and antiques. In just about every corner or nook there are melted candles (even in the bathroom), there are chairs hanging from the ceiling at  one end of the studio and kettles hanging from the other end. Chandeliers a plenty and different chairs dotted around the place. A collection of old speakers and even a Darth Vader head tucked amongst them. A piano and a cut in half mannequin. Even the floor is paint splattered.

I loved it and can’t wait to shoot there again – except this time I’ll be using the actual studio, not just the one black wall in the place.

The SES Clothing Summer ad campaign will be in magazines and bill boards soon. I’ll post the images as soon as I have access to them.

You can see their site here

A few photos taken from my iphone using the Hipstamatic application (a new obsession of mine)

This wall is not part of the studio. It was created using tissue paper. Took ages but looked great

Paint splattered floor

Earlier this month I styled the Philip B ad campaign for his launch at The Hair Expo. I also styled the 9 models, singer and presenter for the launch party at Doltone House. It was an honour to work with a brand like Philip B and with such an amazing team.

As Hollywood’s preeminent hair-treatment expert, Philip B. has garnered international praise for his visionary approach to hair, scalp and body-care treatments. You can read more about him and his products here

Firstly the shoot. This was by far one of the largest shoots I have worked on. 5 female models, 5 male models, 1 photographer and his 2 assistants, 1 hair stylist and 2 assistants to him, 1 make up artist and 2 assistants to her, me and my 3 assistants, an interior stylist, the producer and her two assistants and an art director. On top of that add a camera man and presenter for Face TV and a stills photographer shooting behind the scenes. The studio was crazy busy and a lot of fun.

The labels I used were amazing. Herve Leger, Dolce and Gabbana, Zac Posen, Armani, Valentino and many more. All borrowed from Xile stores around Sydney CBD. If you visit the store in the QVB, ask for Manu, not only is he gorgeous looking but he is very helpful and friendly. The aim of the shoot was to get one main image using all 10 of our models for the invite to the launch. We also shot individual shots and couple shots for the ad campaign. The results are amazing.

Secondly, the launch party which was held on the eve of The Hair Expo at Doltone House. I styled 9 models for a live installation which was a huge success. I also styled the singer, the gorgeous presenter and the host for the Armand de Brignac Champagne, which was a major sponsor. Guests were treated to delicious food, drinks by Skyy Vodka and campari. They all left with a fabulous goodie bag. The VIP goody bags had jewellery from Lydia Jewels.

Rather than rattle on, I’ll say it in pictures …

THE SHOOT

Shoes glorious shoes

Working out the order for the main shot

Putting the main shot together in stages

Hair and Make Up

Me dressing Luca

So many people

Annette Melton from Face TV interviewing me (this is a horrible shot of me)

The main shot for the launch party invite.

Behind the scenes images by Luke Austin

THE LAUNCH

The view from above. Image from Chic Traveller. See more pics from the party here

Two of my fabulous assistants. Ashleigh (left) and Mel (right). I’m in the middle. Unfortunately Nicole who is my number one was away during the party.

Models gone wild

TEAM

Client: Philip B

Producer: Rosemary Hamilton for Medusa Concepts

Art Director: Jay  Lewis

Photographer: Rory Fink

Stylist: Lydia-Jane Saunders

Set Design: Christo Everingham

Make Up: Rachel Montgomery

Hair: Timothy Stone

Photography Assistant: Peter Azzi

Face TV Director: Cisco Corea

Face TV Presenter: Annette Melton

Behind the Scenes Photographer: Luke Austin

I will post the ad campaign images soon

Lydia xx

Wow, it’s been a while since I posted. 2008 to be precise. But I am back …

I must confess to the fact I have actually been cheating on this blog with another and for that I am sorry. Here is the culprit. Lydia Jewels blog

In the last two years I have launched a jewellery label called Lydia Jewels and have been busy getting that off the  ground. I put the styling on a bit of a back burner but recently I have been getting back into it.

In the last few weeks I have styled the Dr Lewinns skin care campaign which you can see on billboards around town now. I have also styled the SES clothing ad campaign and the Fancy Feasts cat food ad campaign. An absolute highlight recently was styling the Philip B haircare campaign and the launch night during the Sydney Hair Expo. I will blog about these soon I promise.

Until then, stay tuned.

If you are a new reader please do have a look at some of my old posts. I am upset that my photos have disappeared. (my own fault as I deleted a picasa album) but the posts are still fun.

Lydia xx

A beautiful early start with label Bowie this morning. Set outside with a backdrop of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Only the cute cupcakes and Nudie juices made it better. Oh and the goodie bag. I’ll admit I’ve never been a massive fan of Bowie but I loved this collection. I want to shoot a lot of it and am desperate to add the gold and black sequin waistcoat into my own wardrobe.

Cupcakes and hand massages whilst we waited for the show to start

Next was Ginger and Smart which was beautiful and Konstantina Mittas. I absolutely adored the blue dress below and can’t wait to shoot it.

Next was the Flamingo Sands show. Great seat (right behind Alex Perry, Charlotte Dawson and Jonathan Pease), great goodie bag and great show. Adored the pom poms on the shoes and in the hair. Pom Poms are going to be huge so keep an eye out for my upcoming jewellery collection.

After Flamingo Sands was The Protege Collections. This is the work of five young international designers all using Australian merino wool and were hand-picked and mentored by Donatella Versace, Karl Lagerfeld and Calvin Klein – what an honour.

My absolute favourite of The Proteges was Kristian Aadnevik, such beautiful dramatic colourful pieces.

I have to admit I was very naughty and skipped the RTW, Marnie Skillings, Stretis and Material Boy is favour of a bottle of plonk with some girlfriends and look around the New Zealand designers at the Billich Gallery. I made it back in time for Thurley and Melanie Cutfield though – which were both lovely. Next was Easton Pearson and it was INCREDIBLE. I want to shoot (and own) every single piece. It was my favourite set so far and the goody bag wasn’t bad either (loved the hand painted scarf, though I’m a fabulous daughter and gave it to my mother). The hair and makeup in this show was outstanding, The use of flowers and plants was ingenious and unique. See photos below.

Last  but not least was the Romance Was Born show at the Conservatorium of Music. It was running so late, my feet and arms were so sore and my boyfriend was waiting to go to dinner, I was almost out the door. But I’m glad I decided to stay as the clothes were fabulous. Great location too. Shame they couldn’t get the sound and timing right but c’est la vie. One of the strangest and creepiest shows I have seen but truly fantastic clothes and performance.

Camilla and Marc, Lisa Ho, Zimmermann, Silence is Golden and Life With Bird started off the day. Then the RTW 2 parade consisting of Amar, Body, Leonard St, Nicolangela, Serdoun and Verduci-Smith. The afternoon was made up of Bec and Bridge, Kate Sylvester, Jessie Hill, Daniel Avakian (which was so over filled, I hardly saw anything – which is a shame because I liked the set- seebelow), Frisoni Finnetti, Alex Perry and Friedrich Gray. Highlight would be the Kate Sylvester show – despite the controversy over the use of Anzac medals.

Daniel Avakian set

Models at the Kate Sylvester show

Kirrily Johnson opened fashion week – loved the jodphurs and tubal pants. Next up was Nicola Finetti, Lee Matthews and One Teaspoon. The first Ready To Wear show included Brooke Benson, Brigid McLaughlin, Dhini, George Wu and Leonardo Salinas. The afternoon saw Hotel Bondi Swim, Anna Thomas, Wayne Cooper and Trimapee take the catwalk.

Next up was my favourite show of the day – Ruth Tarvydas. I loved everything about her collection. The romantic fabrics, the vibrant colours and most of all the jewelled crowns that adorned their loose upstyles. The show was dramatic with fake paparazzi buzzing around the models, the Kardashian sisters in the front row and Jonathan Pease from Australia’s Next Supermodel interviewing guests as we waited for the show to start.

An example of the crowns I loved.

Jonathan Pease interviewing Ruby from MTV in the front row

Fake paps

Unfortunately I didn’t receive an invite to Michelle Jank so I met my boyfriend at Wildfire before heading off to the Ruth Tarvydas after party. It was at De Nom which I am now in love with. The toilets are amazing – and yes I always judge a place on its powder room.

Wildfire – the ‘Velvet Rose’ cocktail my boyfriend had – I just stuck to Champagne and Negroni’s.

The urinal (yes it is a painting – strangely enough the original is housed at The Wallice Collection – a museum on my old street in London) and the ladies toilet at De Nom.

Me at the party and walking towards Haymarket Chinese at 2am (eek)