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Introducing artist Cindy Leong. Cindy takes us through her studio discussing her art practise, mindfulness and style. |
Introduce us to the world in which your paintings take place?
The world which takes place in my studio, is a safe haven, a quiet refuge from the external noise outside. It is a dedicated environment I give myself to slow down and connect with my being through the process of creation. Complete focus and authenticity is required. Often, I enter a flow state when painting, it transports me to another world, one where time does not exist.
Your artwork involves a methodical series of mark making which involves
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How much of the natural world informs your art?Almost entirely… I am informed by the colour palette, its organic textures, its movement, its slow release of time, its impermanence, also its creation of “me” as the creator of “my/our” art, after all I (and we) are a part of nature too. |
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What is on your art/design/fashion wishlist?I’m someone who is quite minimal, to be honest I don’t have anything on my wish list! What I can say though, is that there are many artists and makers whose work I am admire at Public Record. Also, my partner who has started a woodworking studio KIN recently made me a beautiful bedside table which I had on my wish list. |
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Do you have any daily rituals you live by?No strict rituals…I just let the day naturally unfold as it will. Though I do find myself generally meditating and doing a little yoga in the morning, drinking tea and going for walks in the afternoon and journaling or reading at night before bed. |
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How does lighting a candle affect your space mental or physical?I find myself reserving candles for special days when I feel like I need extra company. The presence of a dancing flame, paired with an imbuing scent omits a calming and nurturing energy to the space, it feels like a warm hug on a rainy afternoon. |
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Past or present, which 5 people would you invite to a dinner party?I'm considering picking my 5 favourite comedians so I would have a fun night of laughter! But if I were to choose people who might leave a meaningful influence on me, at this moment in time it would consist of Ram Dass, Alan Watts, Agnes Martin, Thich Nat Hanh and Rick Rubin (I highly recommend his book The Creative Act: A Way of Being). |
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We introduce Lucy Alston, Stylist, Content Creator & Art Director. Half British, half French, Lucy takes a less is more approach to style and is well known for her Restyle Reuse Repurpose series. We met at Lucy's South East London home to discuss fashion inspiration, sustainability and her style. |
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Can you tell us a little about your career journey to date?So I started out in visual merchandising and visual display in retail and gradually moved on into styling and trend forecasting for the same company in house, reporting into the creative director and the marketing department. The job was really quite organic and took on many different aspects of creative work that went on behind the scenes. I ended up overseeing all aspects of styling and being involved in many of the creative projects/strategy right from campaign to store windows which I found really rewarding, I learnt so much and got to workwith some amazing people in the industry, that we’d bring on as creative freelancers, from editors to photographers, make up artists and hair stylists. As budgets were cut and the brands proposition changed from being aspiring to needing to hit margins my passion really wilted! I left after a very long time there, to work for a luxury fashion concierge, I was fashion editor on the creative team there and oversaw the introduction of editorial/magazine style shoppable stories for Instagram. This was a whole new ball game and was great in terms of me learning to navigate a very different landscape, despite it being quite tough at times, due to many different factors, I was happy for the experience and to have had the opportunity to work with the most amazing luxury brands. After a year there I decided to go freelance as a stylist and art director and worked on a few lovely projects with small independent brands, then the pandemic came and changed a lot!! I now work primarily on Instagram as a content creator promoting brands, so I do what I’ve always done, but I am the whole production; Stylist, art director, producer, model, editor and I really love it!
What is your most memorable /pinch me moment?Oh gosh I think it was when we worked with Katie Grand on a campaign! It was years ago now! Or when I styled my very first look book shoot and saw all my moodboard planning come to life!
You describe yourself as half French half British… how do you think this background has informed who you are today?I realise now how lucky we were being able to spend long summers in the south of France and being able to speak fluent French. I always felt embarrassed at a British school when my mum would speak French to me, I wanted to be like all the other kids and just blend in.I think culturally it’s shaped me I have such fond memories of ‘les vacances’ and the very french way of life we’d live for those 6 weeks spent with my bonkers big french family!Fashion wise I always looked up to my older cousin, she was and still is super chic, at the time in the 90s she would wear bodycon black, had a leather Chanel backpack and ride a cute black Vespa. I’d sit patiently waiting for her to have a clear out to get her hand me downs, but never got that backpack : )
Who are your top 4/5 designers?Yves Saint Laurent, Lemaire, The Row & Virginie Viard at Chanel |
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What is your favourite Arc candle?
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If you could invite a table of guests to dinner, (past or present) who would it be?Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss , Harry Styles , Frank Ocean , Louis Theroux, Michelle Obama , Pamela Anderson , Nelson Mandela , The Dalai Lama, Madonna |
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If you could raid the wardrobe of anyone, who’s would it be?Ooooh good question I think it would have to be Françoise Hardy, Jane Birkin or Bianca Jagger from the 1960s-80s. Also Grace Kelly’s wardrobe would be absolutely amazing to raid! I actually don’t like borrowing peoples clothes so it would be purely from a point of interest and like looking through the archives which I absolutely love doing!
Absolute favourite piece you own?My The Frankie Shop navy crombie coat and vintage black tux blazer I got from a charity shop.
We LOVE your Restyle Reuse Repurpose content series. Tell us more about how this came about?It came from a want to use my skill set over lock down and a real feeling of wanting to positively promote shopping your own wardrobe and loving the pieces you already have.
How important is sustainability in fashion to you?Very much so, especially as I’ve gotten older and have a much better sense of my own personal style and how I want to dress and express myself. There are so many more brands creating beautiful collections with the planet in mind and I love how secondhand shopping can be luxurious and exciting, with the likes of The RealReal, Vestiaire Collective and the latest curated luxury secondhand retailer Reluxe, founded by super stylist Clare Richardson!
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Your house is très chic! What were your influences when renovating and what’s your favourite thing in the house?Ahhh thank you! I feel like It truly takes years to cultivate a warm and unique home with your stamp on it, it’s a culmination of collecting things over time with the addition of a few new bits along the way, I love mixing new and old in the home I like a home to look lived in yet be functional and clean, I think those two elements juxtaposed work well together somehow…
How would you describe your style?A mix of minimal yet timeless with sprinkling of french chic : )
Where do you look to for inspiration?Everywhere! Anything that I spot and interests me is inspiring to me, from a trip to the museum to a walk down the high street : )
If you’re settling in for the evening what music would you be playing?I have very eclectic taste in music one minute I’ll be listening to rap the next classical or jazz, whatever the mood takes me I guess! |
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Ruby Hamilton, a photographer & content creator based in Auckland is known for her coastal cool meets 90’s LA minimalist vibe. Ruby gives us a glimpse into her home, in a series of self-portraits. |
You have created content & photography for brands of note Meadowlark, An Organised Life, La Tribe, Syrene Skincare & Chloe Zara Hair amongst others in the fashion, beauty and lifestyle space. Tell us a bit about what led you here.My entrance into becoming a freelance creative was a little bit dramatic and a lot unplanned. At the very beginning of the pandemic, I along with several hundred very talented co-workers lost our jobs quite abruptly at a magazine publishing house. I had just started my “dream job” as the digital content producer for Fashion Quarterly and very early into the role. I was very fortunate to have had some very supportive contacts and friends who started reaching out pretty soon after seeing what I was up to. It kind of just snowballed from there, so for the last couple of years I have been working with brands on their content, social media, styling and creative direction.
What message or feeling do you try to evoke with your work?Warmth, nostalgia and the intimacy of the in between moments that easily get overlooked.
Which Photographers inspire you?There are so many incredible talents out there and some of my closest friends are amazing photographers who I am always inspired by.
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What is your most memorable /pinch me moment?I tend to have quite a lot of imposter syndrome so I regularly think “is this real life?” But one of note just recently was having my first editorial Daydreamer featured on Anyone Girl. Yasmine has been a creative who I have admired for such a long time, and to have her excited about what we created and to see it online was surreal. |
Anyone Girl Editorial Shoot Photography Ruby HamiltonStyling Tori AmblerHair & Make Up Natalie Dent Model Zjana | N Model Agency |
Favourite place to unwind/relax?
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Where do you look for inspiration?A lot of my inspiration comes from people in my life and just chatting to people. Although Instagram can be a bit of a beast sometimes, I do love exploring and finding things to be inspired by. Usually it’s other photographers or makers, I find interiors really inspiring as well. I think it has a lot to do with the textures and how light moves through living spaces.
How would you describe your interior style?It's minimal and pared back with a few trinkets here and there. I love candles, and lots of books. I adore my recent addition, Wonderland by legendary un-fashion photographer Annie Leibovitz, it was a birthday gift from my partner. I like organic lines and neutral colour palettes and I'd say that I'm inspired by 70's motifs with a bit of coastal influence. Even though I like to keep things fairly minimalist, I do have some really special artworks and trinkets passed down to me from my dad's extensive travels.
Where do you look to for interior inspiration?Usually pinterest and instagram, sometimes i've seen a specific piece of furniture or room that I like the look of and end up down a rabbit hole.
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lamp by GUBI |
Sarah Ellison FLOAT Sofa |
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What is your favourite Arc scent?"
That’s a hard choice but I think it has to be the new Agni scent. The perfect masculine and feminine mix. It feels so warm and homely.
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How would you describe your style?
For the most part my style is practical and fairly pared back. I love a relaxed look but also like playing with volume and shapes. My colour palette is very neutral, it helps me to feel calm and confident.
Any rituals you follow to help with motivation/relaxation?
I find it hard to relax, naturally I am quite an anxious and high energy person, but I have really leaned into making my home the thing that brings me calm. Little rituals like lighting a candle and cooking have really helped me to relax more.
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Stevie Nicks, Anthony Bourdain, Meryl Streep & Stanley Tucci |
If you could invite a table of guests to dinner, (past or present) who would it be?"
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Most treasured piece?My Acne Musubi Bag that was a birthday gift from a dear friend and mentor of mine. She knew this was on my dream bag list and picked the perfect colour. Its a piece I will treasure forever.
If you’re settling in for the evening what music would you be playing?This changes a lot depending on the mood, but for dinner time it’s typically a mix Etta James, Fleetwood Mac, Angus & Julia Stone and some Van Morrison.
Any projects for 2023 you’d like to tell us about?2023 Is looking like quite an optimistic year, I feel excited to create and embrace new challenges.
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Meet the creative couple who exude a certain je n'ai sais quoi. Rosalie, a model/stylist and content creator and Myles, a DJ/photographer bring their own dimension to style that is inimitable. Read on to find out what inspired them to make the move to Bali and how their work, lifestyle, mood and style has evolved.
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Meet the creative couple who exude a certain je n'ai sais quoi. Rosalie, a model/stylist and content creator and Myles, a DJ/photographer bring their own dimension to style that is inimitable.
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Read on to find out what inspired them to make the move to Bali and how their work, lifestyle, mood and style has evolved.Rosalie, you recently said you moved to Bali to find balance in life and to slow down.
It does sound super cliche, moving to Bali to slow down and find yourself... but it is cliche for a reason.
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What inspires you right now?"
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Rosalie at home in Bali, photographed by Myles
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Right now I’m trying to focus less on what influencers are doing. I am inspired by people being super authentic . Someone being just them. Which makes me feel like I can be myself. That has been a realisation in Bali.You can see it a mile off. Someone is just themselves. He’s going to hate me saying this, but in that respect, not even just in a style perspective, Myles has that attitude to life. He is just always himself and he doesn’t care what other people think. I’m doing me and that’s what you’re gonna get. And he’s my husband so that’s pretty cool.
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Artist Riz Riz Rizz solo show at The Medium in Canggu, Bali |
You have a unique sense of style, who inspires your style? And who would you want to invite to dinner past or present?I'm gonna roll these into one because for me style influencers are more about people with an ethos. And they are also the people I’d want to hang with. For example I reckon Keith Richards is the man because he represented such a major shift in culture for his time, but he also gave no fucks, lived completely recklessly and survived to tell the tale.Jay Adams has been my hero forever — he’s the Lords of Dogtown skater that totally ripped and was 100% pure in his passion, while never giving in to the corporations, they call him the ”original spark that ignited the sport”, he was never successful financially and got into a heap of trouble, but he is fully authentic, and that’s what’s cool.Torren Martyn is a surfer who is also massively inspiring just because he is living his life in a pilgrimage for waves and adventure, he has incredible style in surfing and life and just represents such an honest and pure and humble mindset. |
Arc Dusk candle |
I love Dusk. Lilac bloom, tobacco & ylang ylang. Every time I light it at home I love it. It sits next to our record player.
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Best place to chill in Bali?"
Ubud, and the beaches in Uluwatu. Bingin.
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Maddy photographed in her home by: Kasia Bobula |
On our recent trip to Europe we caught up with Madeleine Moxham. Maddy is a London-based Art Director/Stylist and Jewellery Designer. She discusses life in London as a creative, her career highs and fashion, art and interiors style. |
You're a talented art director/stylist & designer, how did you get there?I studied a BA and an MA in fashion and design, then ran my own jewellery and accessories brand MOXHAM. For the last 5 years I’ve been working as a stylist and art director for a large UK fashion brand. It’s been so exciting to see how everything I’ve done before has fed in to where I am now. I feel I have found something I truly love. Having said that, I’ve got quite a bit I never get round to because I’m too busy having fun. I’d love to start making jewellery again and taking on more freelance projects. One day soon!
Tell us about MOXHAM.I ran MOXHAM my jewellery & accessories brand for five years and during this time collaborated with and sold in some really exciting stores. I had a lot of press in magazines such as Vogue, Elle, In-Style, Harper's Bazaar and i-D. I amassed a really loyal fan base. Even now when I share images I always get people asking when I’ll do it again and if things are available to buy. Like all adventures it was full of highs and lows but is something I hope to revisit in some way in the future.
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"It’s been so exciting to see how everything I’ve done before has fed in to where I am now and to have found something I truly love." |
I have quite a collection of suits that I love - all different shapes, styles and colours. More and more I’m becoming anti-dresses and I’m not sure why. I guess as you get older you learn what’s best for your body shape and to me a dress always seems too simple to feel like a proper outfit. Maybe it’s the stylist in me but I like at least 4 components in any outfit! I've got my eye on a few from Alex Eagle - I want to add her pinstripe and pistachio suit to my collection.Who are your top fashion designers?I always look at what Gabriela Hearst is doing - her clothing always has an unexpected element and is decorative in an incredibly modern way. It isn’t necessarily my aesthetic but I love the English eccentricity of Colville and the clashing prints and joyous colour. I’d buy all my basics from Joseph or Raey if I could and then jazz it all up with some metallic platforms from Saint Laurent!Has fashion always been something you wanted to pursue a career in?Yes. Not because I was thumbing through Vogue at 6 years old but because I love textures and fabrics, colour, creativity, and image making. I enjoyed textiles at school, studied fashion design at university and then starting designing making my own pieces. My journey to where I am now has been unique, it’s only now that I can see that all those little things that I did along the way, even the bits that seemed pointless or tricky at the time, all added value.Tell us more about being name-checked at the Oscars?Oscar winning costume designer Jenny Beavan had been in touch a few years prior so I knew it was happening but I didn’t quite believe her. It came at the perfect time, I had just had my second son during lockdown which was quite an all encompassing experience, so to have something so unique happening, friends and strangers sending me photos of it from all over the world, was a reminder of all the things I was good at professionally. That felt really wonderful.My jewellery and accessories are oversized, statement pieces so to see it worn as true costume jewellery, for a film that won an Oscar for its costumes (and I was name checked in Jenny’s acceptance speech!), is so fitting.
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Photographed by: Kasia Bobula |
Some cowboy boots. I had a pair that I bought when I was 20 in a New York thrift shop and they’ve finally given up. I’ve decided this is going to be my look for autumn so I need to hurry up and find some!
Where do you tend to look for inspiration for your work?Books. Current exhibitions. Instagram. Photos of things I remember taking and then have to spend hours scrolling back through my camera roll to find…
Friends from work bought me a book of French interior designer Jacques Grange’s recent work as a housewarming present. I have it on the coffee table in the sitting room and I’m always thumbing through it - it’s a treat for the eyes!
I'm currently obsessed with the work of photographer Romain Laprade who I discovered on instagram. The muted shades and 70s nostalgia of his work is so beautiful and some of the buildings he's photographed are just so iconic.
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What is your favourite Arc scent?
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I’d like to be a minimalist but I love things too much. Being in our new home means I’m trying to buy things that feel special to us and we will love forever - it’s a real privilege and joy. I love clean lines and neutral colour palettes but then I get distracted by an antiques shop and come home with multi-coloured trinkets. At least if you’re adventurous with lights and rugs and soft furnishing etc then you can move them around when you get bored.
Congratulations on your new house! Any plans for it?
Just slowly making it feel like ours. We had a house warming where we filled the bath with beers while the kids rampaged around and it was an amazing feeling to have your home full of people you love post pandemic. I bought a print by photographer Ana Cuba recently and I’m yet to frame it but I can’t wait to get it up on the wall. My mum’s best friend Ruth is an artist so growing up we were surrounded by her paintings. I have a few in my house now and love the large scale and big swathes of space and colour.
What is on your wishlist?I love the work of botanical photographer Kate Friend. I have one of her prints in our bedroom but there is a bright red image of Icelandic poppies I always wanted to buy and sadly I think I’ve missed my chance!An iron floor lamp from Sauce my partner has bought me a couple of wooden bowls from them for Christmas / birthdays and I love them. My son calls one of them the ‘nut bowl’ because we get it down at Christmas and it feels so specialA vintage travertine oval dining table - the only ones I can find are in France or Belgium and a million pounds sadly but the search continues
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Charlotte Perriand Bedside LampArc Florence, frankincense, wild citrus & sunlight candle
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How do you use scent in your home?"
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Best spot for inspiration?"When my eldest son Ralph was a baby, I used to head off with him in the buggy - nipping into shops and cafes and galleries. London and everything it offers inspires me which is why I’ll never get bored of it. In a city like this you can just walk anywhere and you’ll find something…" |
The Barbican Conservatory, London |
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Photography by Kasia Bobula |
Rae photographed by: Holly Burgess |
We introduce Rae Sacha, the next up in our journal series. Rae is the Makeup & Beauty Artist for the fashion & beauty brands in Aotearoa you want or need to know. |
Has makeup & beauty been something you’ve always wanted to do?I grew up living above a convenience store until the age of twelve. I have fond memories of always admiring the covers of high fashion magazines and flicking through the pages analysing the makeup and clothes. My Mum also played an influence on me. I remember excitedly accompanying her to monthly About Face facials, I would sit in the lobby for an hour looking at all the skin care and makeup waiting for the day I would get to take a product home for me!What is a scent you always find yourself drawn to and why do you think that is?
I am almost always drawn to more depth and richness with scents. Anything with notes of amber, sandalwood, cedarwood and oud instantly feels like ‘me’ in a scent. For me, scent invokes an emotional response taking me back to my favourite places I have travelled to. DUSK has to be my favourite Arc scent, the notes of tobacco leaf gives a beautiful depth to the scent without being too overpowering.
How do you use scent in the home or life?At home we use scent in multiple ways. Whether it’s lighting up agar wood chips in the oud burner, an Arc candle, or finishing the house clean with a room spray, It plays a really important role in our home.
How would you describe your style?I would best describe my style as refined, minimal, tailored with a few pieces of colour to inject some fun. I am always drawn to the quality and feel of fabrics, and appreciate good tailoring. |
Photographed by: Holly Burgess |
"I find myself to be the most relaxed when I am on holiday. There's something about being in a new place that brings so much calm to me." |
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Do you have any favourite self-care practices that you swear by?I feel recently my version of self care has become more about listening to my body and acknowledging its needs. I am very mindful about getting enough sleep each day, and this has helped bring some balance to the body and mind. Winding down with a tea in a dim room is something I enjoy after a busy day.
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Vogue Australia / Georgia Alice: HMU @rae_makeup Photographer @rob.tennant Hair @mattbenns Model @rainer_zara |
Your makeup radiates the inner beauty of the person you work on. We’ve been enchanted by your work since we were first introduced by Editor and Stylist Zeenat Wilkinson of Sauce Magazine 3 years ago. How would you describe your beauty ethos?Thank you! So kind of you to say.
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Alida photographed by: Holly Burgess
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Can you name 3 beauty products to give a glowy, clean beauty look?For that effortless look with a glow I’d suggest finding a radiance based moisturizer. Not only does this hydrate the skin to impart a healthy glow, the dewy base shines through any base products to give you a natural highlight. (Emma Lewisham illuminating brighten your day Creme). Next, buff a medium coverage concealer under my eyes and softy through the face focusing more of the product on redness and uneven tones (Kosas revealer concealer). Lastly, using either a dusty pink, coral peach or warm brown shade of a creme blush or lipstick, softly diffuse the cream into the apples of the cheeks, a soft sweep on the eyelids and tapped on to the lips to give a monochromatic look.
And lastly. Who would you invite to a dinner party if you could invite anyone past or present?I have so much curiosity about my family history. Sadly both of my grandmothers have now passed, but if I had the opportunity to ask them questions about their upbringing and journey through life I’d be all ears! |
Bernie photographed for Bronwyn Footwear by: Clara Pafundi HMU: @rae_makeup |
Rae photographed by : Holly Burgess |
When do you feel the most beautiful?"
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In the first instalment of our In focus: series, we chat to Phoebe Louise Holden. The New Zealand based Photographer and Digital Marketing Manager for Resident. She shares insights into her style, wellness regime and who she'd invite to her dream dinner party. |
Who or what inspires you?I love Pinterest and spend about an hour every day pinning inspiring art, recipes and fashion looks to my boards. I find podcast interviews with intelligent, successful women really inspiring and motivating so I try to start my day with one of those.
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"Lighting a candle, making a cup of earl grey and reading my book is an important self-care practise for me." |
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Where is the place you feel most connected to nature and why?
At my parents home on Waiheke Island, I grew up there and it is really special to me. The house sits on a cliff looking out across the sea and is nestled into acres of native bush. The sound of native birds and the sea is really soothing.
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How would you define your style?Utilitarian, Minimalist, Androgynous and a little bit skate/street.
Where did your love of fashion begin?
My career in fashion started at a very early age, following my older sister around on set, stuffing envelopes for fashion week, volunteer dressing for shows etc.. I never questioned that this would be the industry I would work in but my drive and obsession was kicked up to a new level after my internship at Vogue, it traumatised and pushed me further than I had ever experienced before.
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Thank you to Phoebe for being a dear friend and an important part of the Arc journey.
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What's the mantra you're living by this year?"
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