PRADA BEAUTY
I've long followed the make-up legend that is Pat McGrath on Instagram, marvelling with stars in my eyes over her delectably inventive beauty looks for various design houses - be it during any given fashion week, or the editorial pages of a magazine.
One particular show captured my imagination during the Fall/Winter RTW showings - namely Prada - which saw beautiful tweed Winter coats breezing down the runway, paired with rubber boots, shockingly bright neon bows tied in tulle and brilliantly shiny diamanté cat eyes. It was a collection of beautifully ethereal, wet-haired aliens and I loved it!
I couldn't decide on any one look in particular as each girl varied wildly between outfit and beauty looks. So I combined my favourites to create the ultimate Prada girl!
I hope you like.
the BOTANIST
You'd think I'd be getting tired of the botanical illustrations by now, buuuuut - no such luck!
I decided to draw a little companion to my 'Florist' girl over the last week, because I clearly can't enough of these tiny people.
This is 'The Botanist' - very nearly titled 'Botany Bae' to the now broken dreams of my husband and friends.
But that's an Aussie in-joke.
This green-thumbed beauty is available in the same sizes and quantities as her (now sold-out) sister! (30 A4 & 30 A3 prints.)
To be honest, I think I like her even more than her floral twin!
You can pick up a print here: www.birdyandme.com.au/shop
P.S The second artwork in the image above is by the amazing Pippa McManus.
le JARDIN
A new personal work for my folio and store!
Inspired by the song 'Golden Afternoon' from my forever favourite, 'Alice in Wonderland' this piece is all about lazy sun-kissed days spent amongst the flowers and fluttering creatures found in any garden.
You can find prints here: www.birdyandme.com.au/shop
INTIMATE
Introducing a new print into my store - 'Intimate ' aptly titled and inspired by the small luxuries of flowers, lace, and perfume.
Available in a very limited quantity of 25 only.
To go to the shop and give her a place in your home, click here: www.birdyandme.com.au/shop
CHANTECAILLE
Some new work for luxury beauty brand, Chantecaille.
To coincide with the release of their F/W 2017 collection, Chantecaille invited a number of artists to take part in their 'Save the Forest' campaign, taking inspiration from the product within the collection, along with the fundamental elements of the brand identity; natural ingredients, beautiful botanicals, and lush wilderness.
The F/W collection also includes a very special eye palette, designed to both reflect and raise awareness for a carefully chosen environmental cause. This year, Sylvie Chantecaille, the creator of the brand, was inspired by the incredibly beautiful, but endangered, habitat of the Congo and its last remaining silverback gorilla population.
(Fun fact: the photograph used on the palette is one of Sylvie's own.)
It's an astonishing figure that 50% of the world's rain forests are destroyed every minute.
As someone who happens to live in one of the most naturally beautiful parts of the world, Tasmania, this project was close to my heart. (Temperate rain forests comprise roughly 10% of Tasmania, 598,000 hectares, which is the largest coverage in Australia.)
It's undeniably important that we do everything we can to protect and nurture our natural forests and landscapes.
Taking my inspiration from the lush greenery of the forest, along with the gorgeous colours of the palette in their rich, earthy tones, I wanted to create a sort of super-chic wood nymph, standing on the forest floor, surrounded by, and holding close to her, foliage and products from the collection. Along with the sense of beauty and sophistication that comes with the Chantecaille brand, my aim was to portray the idea of new life; which, for the rain forest, is all about fresh, bold colour, unfurling shapes but it also has a certain fragility. It was important to me to show in some way that we have to nurture the environment as best we can.
To make it even more alluring, a portion of the proceeds from the 'Save the Forests' eye palette will go directly to the Rainforest Alliance, an organisation that works to protect both the precious forests and the vast array of wildlife and endangered species' that inhabit it.
Clicking on 'add to cart' never felt so rewarding!
You can read more about the campaign by heading to the Chantecaille website here.
Australian shoppers can shop the product in Mecca stores nationwide or online at Net-A-Porter.
NEW YORK
I was recently asked by the Mandarin Oriental New York to share my ideal way to spend 24 hours in NYC which led me to re-visiting some of my favourite places in the Big Apple (even if only mentally.)
It also inspired me to pick up on my travel series again (which featured previously Paris, Italia, London and Tokyo) and you can find this print in my shop now by clicking here.
I took my inspiration from the beautiful Flatiron district - a definite MUST if you're in NYC - home of incredible eats (Shake Shack, Eataly, Taco Taco), Washington Square Park, and also the best place to start a walking tour of lower Manhattan;
East Village - SoHo - West Village - ending on the High Line / Meatpacking District.
View more of my faves in the shots below. (I don't think I've ever shared these...?)
Flatiron
Chrysler Building / Grand Central Station
Brooklyn
East Village
SoHo
West Village / High Line
Saks Fifth Avenue
Bryant Park / Around the World Fashion Magazines & Books
Views of Central Park from the Top of the Rock
PINK PRADA DISCO BALLS
I spotted these Prada (SS '16) earrings in a magazine a few years ago while making a mental note to include them in an illustration because they were just so. damned. fun.
In classic Kelly style, it has taken me over two years to do just that. But, better late than never as they say!
These were the perfect baubles to add to my jewellery portfolio, if not to my physical collection - I'm not sure they're even purchasable anymore. Alas...
VOGUE JAPAN BEAUTY
Some brand new work for Vogue Japan!
Excuse me for one second while I gush about something...
Aside from the obvious – my intense love for Japan itself – this edition of Vogue has always been one of my favourites. Mainly for their unique take on fashion, but also for their unwavering support of illustration. It's something of a rarity these days to find illustration used frequently throughout any one issue of a magazine, yet Vogue Japan do it EVERY MONTH.
I love – and applaud – it!
I was so thrilled to work on these beauty illustrations for the September issue – on stands now.
Featuring a bevvy of beauties taking the appropriate steps toward flawless skin; nutritious smoothies, gentle massage and face creams.
There were also additional illustrations on the following pages, covering four different face shapes and the best skin care routine for each.
If you want to get your hands on a copy, Vogue Japan can be purchased via this link to Amazon JP HERE. I very frequently purchase my fave Japanese titles (of which there are many) this way.
SIDE NOTE
Can we take a moment to appreciate this insane cover? Original noughties Supers dressed head to toe in Prada = ICONIC.
I could not have fluked a more flawless issue to be asked work on.
Image Credits:
Photographer: Luigi & Iango
Styling: Anna Dello Russo
Models: Anna Ewers, Doutzen Kroes, Joan Smalls, Lara Stone, Natasha Poly & Vittoria Ceretti
Hair: Luigi Murenu
Make Up: Yumi Lee
Nails: Sara Alaimo
BVLGARI BEAUTY
Beauty piece for my folio, featuring Bulgari jewels made with stunning rubellites, tanzanites, aquamarines, diamonds and Akoya pearls.
RODARTE PARIS COUTURE
It felt quite fitting after re-watching 'Black Swan' this past weekend, drooling over those stunning Rodarte costumes, that I should wake up on Monday morning to see images from their debut show at Paris' Couture Fashion Week (their first away from their native NYFW).
There were so many stand-out moments, it was hard to choose which images to include in this post. But, all I can say is, if ever there was a collection that embodied everything I love about fashion, it's this one. Feathers, florals, bows and tulle. I love it all! Ethereal beauties adorned with babies breath, floating through a garden in full bloom.
I did choose one of the softer options to illustrate (No pink! Shocking!) as I wanted to focus on colours closer to nature.