Call me old fashioned, but if there’s one trend I’m happy to see returned onto the fashion radar this season it’s ‘Lady Like’.

Styled not too prim-and-proper but with a good dose of sensible pieces to elegantly mix and match into a unique wardrobe in feminine fabrics and tones. Think twin-set and pearls given a modern twist.

We unleashed the latest trend throughout our Westfield and AMP Centres this fortnight.

…and completely unplanned, it happens to co-incide perfectly with Mothers Day this weekend, too!

Above: Gorgeous set styling by Tanya Fogarty Design

Ps. What’s more sign up now for both Spring + Summer and as a bonus you’ll receive a FREE web ad on our ever-growing website www.coastalhomemagazine.com.au for 2 months! (eg. above)

We haven’t made a big hoo-ha of the fact that at the start of 2012 we started operating from a fresh and fabulous new studio space in the fashionable suburb of The Junction, NSW.

This is mainly because as the old adage goes, it is the tailor that normally has tears in his clothes… ie. it is the stylists who still have the longest list of  D.I.Y’s To-Do’s as we’re too busy waving our style wands over other’s pads and places!

We do hope to reveal the studio space in full soon. Until then however if you do find yourself driving past 140 Glebe Road watch out for our constantly evolving exterior and window displays, created with our co-occupier, the talented Tanya Fogarty Design.

But if you can’t do a drive-by in person don’t despair; as like on Playschool where you were asked what was ‘Through the Window,’ here on the blog from time to time we’ll invite you to also have a peek to see what’s inside…

First up, Tim reveals a glimpse into the aesthetic he plans to evolve in the studio’s interior space – a Modern/Coastal scheme (of course!); and Tanya invited the public to consider a ‘New Year, New Look’.

Ps. Don’t you just die for our massive 1 metre drop and diameter pendant over the entry way? The organic handwoven creation is from Boyd Blue.

Follow the studio on Facebook, here.

Above: Latest timneve.com website refresh, April 2012

I have to admit I’ve felt a little bit of techno-anxiety lately – not only do we have to maintain our real life existence, our online presence is now the way we stay continually in touch: facebooking, tweeting, and now I’ve finally jumped on the bandwagon and added Pinning and Posing to the list of online-things-to-do, too!

SO you can now follow TN on super-cool virtual pinboard site Pinterest for a glimpse at what inspires us here visually. (But be warned, this site is an inspirational visual feast and once you enter you may not emerge for several hours later… it’s highly addictive to keep on clicking and discovering amazing, creative images and ideas.)

Also be sure to check out TN on Pose.com as we’ll upload our latest trend-styling on mannequins from Australian retailers as they are created. Love the way you can ‘tag’ outfits by retailer so it’s easy to steal-the-style.

…and of course if you don’t have an account yet on either set one up and be sure to tell us to follow your pinning and posing, too!

Above: Inspiration ‘Mixed Prints’, and Below: TN’s Westfield Styling.

Autumn / Winter fashion trends continue to be unveiled around the state by TN, with ‘Femme Fatale’ (think leather and lace) and ‘Mixed Prints’ the favour the past few weeks at Westfield Parramatta, Sydney whilst AMP Capital’s Junction Fair in Newcastle, NSW explores it’s ‘Winter Wonderful’ campaign with fashion retailers demonstrating a take on ‘Navajo’ dressing for the season ahead.

I have to admit the prospect of ‘Mixed Prints’ frightened me at first, but taking inspiration from Carrie Bradshaw who proved anything can go together to create an ensemble (as long as it’s teamed with self confidence), here are my top tips for pulling of this look:

• Opposites Attract: Start with one print and then literally team it with the polar opposite. ie. A small polka dot with an oversized floral. If you were to do two polka dots that’s when it starts to look all a bit too costume-y.
• Common Thread: Find one colour in both prints that compliments each other. This may be because they are the same colour, similar hue, or opposite but complimentary ie. purple vs. green.
• Form Fitting: The golden rule of print clashing is to choose garments that are structured and tailored. Jackets and pencil skirts will stop you from looking swamped or draped in metres of curtain fabrics.
• Finishing Touch: Balance the patterned look with blocks of pop colour in accessories.

Stay tuned for even more back-to-back seasonal styling as there’s still 6 more weeks of inspired fashion to be explored at both locations…

Westfield: Fashion Styling -Tim Neve, Set Designs: Tanya Fogarty Design
AMP: Set Design + Fashion Styling: Tim Neve

Above and Below: Femme Fatale

And finally, ‘Winter Wonderful’ at Junction Fair, below (campaign translated into in-centre promo):

With Easter just a week away we thought we’d remind you that the latest issue of Australian Coastal Home magazine includes a 4-page ‘Easter Escapes’ feature.

“We know Australian’s love their long weekends. What better time, with the weather still inviting, to take a small trip to any great spot along our coastline? Our ‘Easter Escapes’ feature suggests a few special stopover’s that we love.”

You can read more online, or pick up a copy of Coastal Home before you set off next weekend – at newsagents nationally or online.

Click images to enlarge…

With a kind of hungover presence from last-seasons on-trend colour blocking, Autumn / Winter 1960’s fashion influence is evident with structured silhouettes in bold hues featuring in most retailers collections.

This fortnight at Westfield Parramatta TN showcases a whopping 24 interpretations of the trend throughout the centre.

Our favourite find? A multitude of look-at-me block coloured suede platforms available at various price-points, no matter what your budget!

Watch Westfield’s other super-stylist’s tips on how to get the look too, below:

Thrilled to be this seasons Fashion Stylist for Westfield Parramatta’s centre-wide Visual Merchandising. Over the next 12 weeks we’ll unveil the 6 key fashion trends for A/W 2012.

Stunning set designs taking place on each of the middle three floors of this mega-shopping destination are created by style partner-in-crime Tanya Fogarty Design, whilst the mannequins get a makeover by TN utilising fashion from retailers including the big guns that are DJ’s and MYER.

First up style-wise = BOHEMIAN:

Who doesn’t love a bit of bo-ho? Influenced by the fanciful and folksy of decades past, this look goes hand in hand with the warm palette being utilised this season with ochres and berries in patterned knits and come-back courdoroy. Getting the look is easy – start with a faux fur vest teamed with a block colour jean and top it all off with a fun felt hat.

Check out this selection of the first series of key looks, and stay tuned for the next 5 trends as they are revealed over the coming weeks…

Above: Behind-the-Scenes, dollies and trolleys.
Below: The finished installations.

Great news! TN’s retail environment styling for the wonderful Sanbah store is a finalist in the category of National ‘Shop Fit Out of the Year’ in the Australian Surf Industry Awards.

Winners are announced March 28. Until then, you can vote in the public poll for Sanbah in the NSW ‘Retailer of the Year’ category too, here.

Best of luck Sanbah! See more images of the store design here.

The public have spoken! After a tidal wave of emails and phone calls from up and down the coast of people desperate to get a copy of the launch issue of Coastal Home, now that it had gone off sale from the news stands, we heard you loud and clear:

Australian Coastal Home magazine will now be available in the future for purchase of current issues and back issues from magstore.com.au

Also on the site you’ll find our publisher’s other wonderful lifestyle titles. Add a message card to your purchase if it’s being sent out as a gift, too (what a great idea!)

Orders can also now be made by telephone: 1800 801 647 and there’s free shipping of all issues Australia-wide too, usually within 3-5 business days.

Now there’s no excuse to not have every issue lined up on your coffee table! x