Five minutes with fashion blogger, Lady Melbourne

As editor of Melbourne-based fashion blog, ‘Lady Melbourne,’ Phoebe Montague’s fashion commentary and style has earned her a reputation as one of Australia’s key fashion bloggers. Founded in 2007, the blog has grown to include a social media reach of over 50,000 unique likes, fans and followers across platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Discuss your five favourite things at home.

Artwork, fresh flowers, books, candles and the one I love. 

What are your top five professional moments?

1. Winning 'Best Fashion Blog,' at the NuffNang Asia Pacific Blog Awards in 2009

2. Being on the cover of Peppermint magazine in 2009, the first blogger to ever appear on an Australian magazine cover 

3. In 2012 I worked with digital blogging agency to organise Fashionopolis, Australia’s first ever national industry day for fashion bloggers.

4. Being flown to Hong Kong in 2013 to shoot in various locations for the blog

5. My 1000th Blog Post Party at Miss Fox in 2011

Tempt us with your five best cheat day foods.

1. Homemade chocolate brownies

2. Croissants

3. Crusty bread with butter

4. Chocolate cake

5. Triple cream brie.

As a photographer, your five best shoot locations?

1. New York

2. Hong Kong

3. Anywhere inner-city Melbourne

4. Natural light at sunset

5. Grand old buildings.

And finally, reveal five moments you wish hadn't happened.

I don't regret moments or things that did or didn't happen, I think it slows you down to dwell on negatives. I do have a nice long list of things that I didn't buy on my recent stint in New York that I wish I had, if you care to hear...?

1. A Nepalese beaded handbag from a trader just off Broadway, it was $50.

2. A butter yellow porcelain mason jar for $8 that exactly matches the colour of some tiles in my bathroom.

3. A royal blue glass lemon juicer from the 1930s at the Chelsea Antique garage. It was $20.

4. The perfect pink lipstick at Sephora.

5. A pair of heart shaped gold earrings from a little boutique in the East Village.

www.ladymelbourne.com.au

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Five minutes with freelance stylist Amita Kala

 

Amita Kala: 

Freelance Fashion Stylist

Discuss your five favourite things at home.

1.     It’s safe to say I would not be able to function properly without my Macbook. The screen is cracked but that just adds to its character.

2.     The fridge. I am a passionate foodie and health fanatic, I believe everyone should have chia seeds, LSA and quinoa stocked in their cupboards at all times.

3.     Electric blanket, a winter necessity.

4.     Glasshouse Vanilla Caramel Candle.  No explanations needed.

5.     A jewellery storage cupboard which allows me to easily see all of my jewels - having everything displayed stops me from wearing the same accessories over and over. Accessorising an outfit differently can completely change the look and vibe of what you’re wearing!

o   What are your top five products on fashion shoots?

1.     Clips, I can’t emphasise enough how handy these babies are when shooting- if the clothes aren't sitting right on a model, out come my clips to cinch and tailor where needed. Lifesavers.

2.     Nail polish remover, because coming to set with hot pink nails isn't okay.

3.     Lint roller, it helps keep everything polished and clean.

4.     Steamer, particularly good for unidentifiable stains or when my car is jam packed and clothes end up crinkled on set (steamer to the rescue!)

5.     Lucas Paw Paw ointment. The red tube every girl should have in her bag. The end.

Tempt us with your five best cheat day foods

1.     KFC wicked wings box – sinfully satisfying for deep fried cravings.

2.     Milse, their salted caramel hazelnut chocolate ice cream leaves me in shivers.

3.     Sushi  – I know this may not seem like an ordinary fat laden cheat food, but for me, eating white rice (and so much of it) is a cheat. 

4.     Barilla in Auckland – their dumplings are cheap and delicious, best combination ever.

5.     Let’s be honest: chocolate in any flavour, shape or form.

Five best shoot locations?

1.     White House Studios: so fresh and so clean.

2.     Going on a road trip with the team in one car, stopping when we find a beautiful spot and letting inspiration take over.

3.     An abandoned town would be airy and have a lot of character that I feel would translate well into an editorial.

4.     I have always wanted to do a shoot in an antique store, the vintage ambiance is so relevant.

5.     New York, so I can sing ‘…started from the bottom now we here’- appropriate #drakereference

And finally, reveal five moments you wish hadn't happened.

I live life with no regrets and believe wholeheartedly that everything happens for a reason. If I were to nominate events in my life that I wish hadn't happened it would be the equivalent of asking what body part I’d want to remove – all moments I have experienced equate to the person I am now, no situation is ever bad, rather a life event that has proved as a learning opportunity.

You can see more of Amita's work over on her Tumblr. Amita works in New Zealand currently.

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