BEAUTY & THE BEAST

It's come to the point in my fairy tale collection where I've started saving the best for last.
While it's so hard for me to play favourites, as so many different stories appeal to me for different reasons, 'Beauty and the Beast' is one of those stories that just gives me butterflies.
Admittedly, it's a tale that I never connected with until I saw the Disney adaptation in 1992. Prior to that, I think I had seen an 80s soap-style version that starred Linda Hamilton – which didn't exactly grip me. Of course, we can never forget Shelley Duvall's 'Faerie Tale Theatre.'
However, from the very first moment I laid eyes on that shiny, big screen and listened to a host of villagers sing 'Bonjour!' to each other I was hooked. I still vividly remember turning to my Mum half-way through 'Be Our Guest' and requesting we 'buy this on video as SOON as it comes out!'
It was love.
Over the past 25 (gulp!) years I have devoured other editions of the story - most notably the French live-action film starring Léa Seydoux as Belle and Vincent Cassell as the Beast.
This version is much more in keeping with the original tale and I highly recommend watching it. It's visually stunning.
I also have to make mention of Disney's current live-action remake. I admit - I've already seen it three times. On first viewing I wasn't sure what I thought of it, having already seen (and loved) such a high quality live-action version of the story, but also being so familiar with the original 1992 version.
However, on subsequent viewings, I was able to take it in without any pre–conceived ideas and just enjoy it for what it was.

I digress! Back to the illustration. I started my interpretation of this story almost a year ago!
I had some initial ideas of how I wanted to capture it in illustrated format, but I kept putting it off, wanting the idea to have time to grow if needed - and I was never entirely happy with what I was doing. To try to encapsulate such a delicately beautiful and layered story into just one image is not as easy as it sounds. There are so many themes within 'Beauty and the Beast' - not just the love story between Belle and the Beast, but also those of jealousy, greed, materialism and the superficial manner in which we can judge each other. There was also the symbolic nature of the rose.
Some interpretations of the original tale by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve are quite grotesque. Others are beautiful, and opulent. I think we all tend to associate fairy tales with the fantasy of royalty and beauty. However, they always hark back to darker roots; stories created to scare children into making good moral choices. Which is why it can be so hard to truly depict each story.
But, strip it all back and no matter which way you look at it, this story is ultimately about love; lost, platonic, coveted, and deep, true love. Which is why I decided to focus my illustration on the enigmatic rose at the heart of the story - with a side of couture as always.
Depending on which version you want to read into, the rose symbolises the Beast's love for his previous wife; his grief and guilt at her death which was (inadvertently) caused by his own callous and beastly nature, but also the love that Belle's father feels for his daughter, as it is this rose that he plucks from the Beast's garden to give to Belle when he returns home. A rose is what Belle covets most, when all of her sisters crave jewels and finery. In the Disney version, the rose is a physical reminder of the Beast's curse, representing the time he has in which to break the curse that befalls him, before the last petal falls.
One of my favourite parts of researching this tale was seeing how their relationship is depicted in different variations of the story. I wanted to focus on the progression of their relationship, and in doing so fell back into the original tale. Belle, having taken the place of her father, sits down to an opulent dinner with the Beast each night. After every meal he asks her to marry him, a proposal she refuses. However, gradually, as she begins to know him, and to feel empathy and gratitude toward him for the kindness that he shows to her, she starts to see his true character beneath the beastly guise, and falls in love with him.
Chic as ever, dressed in Chanel-inspired lace, Belle and a Versace-clad Beast are ensconced inside the glass cloche, standing amongst opulent candelabras and the peony roses that represent their budding love affair.

The latest in the collection, 'Beauty and the Beast,' is available in my store now in limited A3 + A2 editions until sold out.

SHOP HERE: www.birdyandme.com.au/shop

CINDERELLA

The latest in my fairy tale series, and perhaps one of the most widely treasured - 'Cinderella'!

For so many of us, 'Cinderella' (told by the Brothers Grimm and, perhaps most famously, Charles Perrault) is synonymous with Walt Disney's classic animated film. Along with 'Snow White' it was one of the studio's very first in a long line of fairy tales.
We're so familiar with that 'Bibbity Bobbity Boo' scene, the stunning score, and that beautiful scenery (envisioned by the wonderful concept art of Mary Blair).

While Disney's version is so vivid in our memories, I wanted to focus less on the ball and the Prince, and more on Cinderella herself.
Of course those shoes makes a precious cameo, but it's all about that glorious gown and the transformation from rags to ravishing beauty. The birds and mice are getting her dressed and she's just about to throw that god-damned broom away.
In true fashionista style, our Cinderella proves that sometimes all it takes to improve your day is a killer pair of heels and a beautiful dress! Sure, you might have to sweep a few floors, but you'll feel pretty darn good doing it.

'Cinderella' is available now in a limited edition of 40 A3 prints, and 15 A2 prints, in my store here:
www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
I hope I've done her justice!

HYFASHION AT GRAND HYATT MELBOURNE

HyFashion Stationery Suite, photographed by Gemma Watts

Brooke Meredith in Con Ilio for the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, photographed by Neiyo Sun

I recently had the honour of working with the incredibly luxurious Grand Hyatt Melbourne on their Spring fashion campaign, HYFASHION, in collaboration with Australian designer, Con Ilio;
celebrating the iconic beauty of the 'Paris' end of Collins St, Melbourne's premiere shopping precinct, and home of the hotel.
Incorporating the stunning pink 'Charlotte' gown with its hand embroidery and signature camouflage print designed by Con himself, we wanted to create the image of a bold and confident woman; the personification of Melbourne's celebrated fashion and design scene.
As a huge fan and admirer of Haute Couture, working with a designer championing the very specific and intricate methods of creating such gowns was a dream.

During the course of the promotion, guests can book a very special 'HY FASHION' package which includes, with a luxury stay at this beautiful hotel, an exclusive stationery suite (designed by me), High Tea for two in Collins Kitchen, and a one-on-one consultation with Con Ilio.

To book a stay at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne visit the website HERE.

THUMBELINA

I can't describe how inspired I was by last week's visit to the Viktor & Rolf exhibit at the NGV in Melbourne.
One gown in particular struck a huge cord with me, along with this quote the boys had left on the wall at the exit;
"We design clothes that look like they were made by the birds in Cinderella."
UM, YES!
I feel like this idea encapsulates everything that is so whimsical and beautiful about fashion - and, in particular, Haute Couture.
These gowns are less about wearability and so much more about the fantasy of a character or mood, lending themselves so beautifully to that sort of suspension of disbelief we adopt when we read our favourite fairy tales. Which is exactly what I'm trying to achieve with this series of work.

Currently working my way through my favourite childhood stories, that quote paired with the stunning ribbon gown from
Viktor & Rolf's 2005 'Flowerbomb' collection really resonated when it came to my next effort - 'Thumbelina.'
It's probably quite clear to everyone how much the story and concept of 'Thumbelina' influences my work - just in my approach to scale, alone!
So, when tackling my illustrated version of this little lady I wanted to bring her into the world of fashion and have her 'mother' be a Parisien dressmaker; one who would create a gown for her from scraps of fabric and off-cuts from the floor.
Of course this particular gown was unbelievably fitting to my idea and as soon as I saw it in the exhibition I knew it was The One.
The mouse is also a nod to one of my childhood heroes, Beatrix Potter. After all, the mice in the building would no doubt help Thumbelina's mother stitch this beautiful gown!

I think this has to be my new favourite of the series <3

See more 'Thumbelina' inspiration below:

VIKTOR & ROLF : FASHION ARTISTS

While in Melbourne last week, I had the pleasure of visiting the brand new exhibition at the NGV
'Viktor & Rolf: Fashion Artists.'
To say I was excited is an understatement! I have loved the Dutch designers for years, their 'non-conformist' take on fashion is always so intriguing and inspiring and allows them to express so much creativity. As the title of the exhibition states, they are true artists; each piece a stand-alone artwork in itself.

Of particular note for me were the unbelievable tulle pieces from Spring 2010, as well as the rotating gown from their 'Van Gogh Girls' 2015 collection (cue gif!) which was similar to the gown I illustrated at the time the collection premiered.
I vividly remember wondering what on earth had possessed me to take on the illustration of one of these particular gowns (that line work took for-ever) and seeing the construction and detail up close and in-person brought it all rushing back. The design is just next-level!

If you have a chance, I highly recommend paying the Nation Gallery of Victoria a visit to see the collection in person. 'Viktor & Rolf: Fashion Artists' runs until Feb 26.

DIOR'S 'PALMYRE' DRESS

I recently had the pleasure of illustrating the cover of a screenplay for an in-development film!
While I can't reveal too much about the film itself just yet, I can share with you the illustration, and fawn over its subject a little bit.
Fashion enthusiasts might recognise this beautiful vintage Dior gown from 1952 - Christian Dior's famous 'Palmyre' design.
The film centers around many such precious gowns, and I've got my fingers crossed that we will see it on our screens in the not-too-distant future.
For a film-obsessed gal like me, this is probably one of the most interesting and exciting commissions I've had to date.
(To learn a little more about the process of script to screen, and also get a little couture illustration in on the side, is my idea of the perfect project!)
I hope you enjoy this peek at the process of draft to final...we wanted to keep the figure quite simplistic so as to draw all of the attention to that glorious gown!

VOGUE ESPAÑA

I'm so honoured to have my Viktor & Rolf illustration featured inside the latest supplement from Vogue España!
In a special feature about the relationship between fashion and illustration, my work is published alongside that of the wonderful Judith Van Den Hoek and Sarah Beetson - both also rep'd by my agency Illustration Ltd. Go, team!
You can find the article inside Vogue Tech with the June issue of Vogue España - on sale now.

BELLA HADID X MISHA COLLECTION

New work for luxe Australian label, Misha Collection, and their collaboration with the stunning Bella Hadid.
Attending this year's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia to open and close the Resort '17 show, Bella is also the face of their new 'Misha Gold' line.

I loved working on this image - after all, what can be better than monochrome brush strokes and a Hadid in a little black dress?

View more at www.mishacollection.com.au

Original photograph by Nino Munoz for Misha Collection.

DIOR AND I GIVEAWAY

On Sunday I went to see the brand new fashion documentary by Frédéric Tcheng, 'Dior and I'.
The film documents the appointment of the brilliant Raf Simons as new Creative Director of Dior and the subsequent weeks (8, in fact) that followed - the time in which he and his team had to entirely design and create the next Haute Couture collection. No small feat.

For those that follow fashion, and in particular the Couture collections, this could not be a more riveting film.
We see the moment that Raf is introduced to the Dior staff and the Atelier team (the incredibly talented tailors and dressmakers that create and assemble each design from Raf's vision.)
We see his design process, we meet the staff members, we discover the world of Couture.
We learn that 8 weeks to design and create an entire collection, Couture no less, is extreme.
Using some of the finest, most intricate, methods and processes in dressmaking; it's an artform.

Sometimes in the frenzied glamour that is the fashion world, the speed in which it moves and we consume, we forget to acknowledge the talented hands behind-the-scenes, the ones that work busily, stitching, cutting, crimping, and pressing, to bring the designer's incredible vision to life.
This film celebrates all of those involved in presenting the collection and it's a true feat to behold.

Amongst the chaos there are moments of genius, anxiety-ridden meetings, heart-melting confessions, and a true pride and sense of triumph in those final moments of "the show."
It's emotional and a joy to watch. When it ends you just want the whole thing to begin again.
I can't even begin to talk about the flower walls at the final presentation.
I still remember watching the collection's live show on my laptop at 1am (Australian time) my mouth agape at the breath-taking beauty of an entire house covered in fresh flowers.
To see how that stroke of genius came about was just another treasure.

To celebrate the release of the film, I've teamed up with Madman Entertainment to give away
10 double passes to see 'Dior and I' during it's theatrical run.
One major winner will also take home a DVD pack of fashion films, along with their film pass,
including 'The September Issue', 'Mademoiselle C', 'The Tents', and 'Bill Cunningham New York'.
Lucky duck!

To enter the competition hop on to social media and be sure to do the following:

INSTAGRAM: Follow @birdyandme, like and re-gram the competition image
using the hashtag #birdydiorcomp + tag @birdyandme in your post.
FACEBOOK: Follow the 'Birdy & Me' page, like and share the competition image.
Simple!

Be quick, though, as the competition ends TOMORROW!
Winners will be drawn at random and announced on Thursday, 2nd April.
5 winners will be drawn from each platform (including the major prize winner.)
Please also note that the competition is open to Australian residents only.
Good Luck!

For more information on the film, in cinemas now, visit: www.diorandimovie.com/australia

SARA ET LE FRENCHIE

It's been a couple of years since our last collaboration, but I recently had the pleasure of working with the crazy talented Zanita Whittington again!

Our latest venture features the always stunning Sara Donaldson of Harper & Harley, a whole lot of paint splatters, and Archie the French Bulldog. Hence the Parisian spin on the title of this post! Isn't he just the cutest?

I had so much fun getting messy with these images.

To see behind the scenes footage of the shoot, check out episode 7 of Fashion Bloggers which is airing on the Style Network in Australia, along with E! in the US, UK and Asia.
You can also read more about Zanita and her vision for the shoot in her interview with Lucky Magazine here.

Credits:
Photography: Zanita Whittington
Illustration: Kelly Smith
Model: Sara Donaldson & Archie
Make-Up: Christabel Draffin
Hair: Frankie Endersbee
Styling: Sara Donaldson