AMPR

I love... Eyebrow Threading at Ottoman3 at Myer Highpoint

2009-08-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I headed to Highpoint where I had my eyebrows threaded at Ottoman3. I’m sure no-one knows what I am talking about by eyebrow threading but soon enough you will.

It is an ancient technique for removing unwanted hair from the brow area and in turn, achieving sharp, defined brow lines.

The below image should give you a bit of an idea of the technique used, but it basically consists of an eyebrow artist using their fingers to twist and loop a thread which in turn removes the hairs one by one.

It originated in India and spread to the Middle East before being adopted by Western Europeans and becoming a hugely popular choice for hair removal. Many celebrities such as the Beckhams, Brad Pitt and Salma Hayek swear by it and have it done regularly to maintain the shape of their brows.

In my opinion it was only slightly less painful than waxing, but the result was much better- my brows were left looking really well defined and had a great shape.

The Ottoman3 brow bar is currently only open at Myer Highpoint but after a very successful start, there are plans to expand into Myer stores nationally.

Melbourne Central - Behind the Scenes

2009-08-03T23:16:00.000-07:00

Check out the 'making of' Melbourne Central's Autumn/Winter advertising campaign which celebrates 'Living Melbourne'

Two Blocks @ Melbourne Central

2009-07-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

We've just wrapped on an amazing fortnight, bringing the best art, design, fashion and music from the streets and laneways into Melbourne Central.

Live paintings, a brilliant live fashion shoot and a fantastic official festival party were but some of the great activity happening, right in one of Melbourne's busiest hubs.

Here are some pics to show you what went on. You can see full galleries of the festival party and the fashion shoot at our Flickr site.

Linda Farrow and Lizzie Fortunato - ARRIVE AT GRACE BOUTIQUE

2009-07-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

Melbourne boutique Grace has expanded its offering with two new and exciting collections in store now.

The collections include Linda Farrow vintage – known for producing luxury eyewear for leading fashion designers - encompasses over 200 styles inspired by the 70’s and 80’s and has established itself as one of the most exciting brands in fashion today.

The section collection is Lizzie Fortunato; a jewellery range inspired by textures and patterns of the American west, features hand covered leather beads, crystal studded collars and hand embroidered bandana style necklaces.

Visit Grace at 595 Malvern Road Toorak to view these beautiful new collections!

Jenny Bannister, doing it for the kids!

2009-07-27T17:57:00.000-07:00

Renowned Melbourne designer Jenny Bannister has offered Melbourne Girls Grammar students her beautifully designed dresses as part of the school’s annual fundraiser parade.

The lucky 15 students were treated to their very own personal fitting and styling session at Jenny’s flagship store in Chapel Street - where the excitement was through the roof.
Jenny Bannister will be the guest speaker at the school’s fashion parade this week, where she will talk to students about the inspiration, passion and dedication that is involved in constructing a garment.

For further information on Jenny Bannister’s designs visit: http://www.jennybannister.com.au/

AMPR loves Tracey Lee Hayes

2009-07-20T22:05:00.000-07:00

We had some new AMPR team photos taken this morning by the amazing Tracey Lee Hayes. She impressed us when we worked with her on Eat Street and didn't fail to impress again today.

Even though none of us were very comfortable being on the otherside of the camera she made us feel relaxed and made the experience as enjoyable as possible.

Stay tuned as they'll be up on our website soon but in the meantime don't forget to check out her portfolio at www.traceyleehayes.com

Zoe Elizabeth Bikini Queen - Summer 2009

2009-07-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

We Love: The Zoe Elizabeth New Summer 2009 Collection

Made from the highest quality 100% cotton fabrics, each Zoe Elizabeth bikinis are in bold signature prints, displaying designer swimwear with a twist.

This summer must have for any cossie lover!

AMPR is expanding

2009-07-13T18:19:00.000-07:00

AMPR is very happy to announce the appointment of three new team members...

Karla Dawes joins us as an Account Executive in the fashion department. She has over three years of industry experience and has already impressed us all with her strong work ethic, efficiency and good humour.

Alexandra Gibson has come on board (only yesterday) as AMPR’s Office Manager. She’ll manage day-to-day duties, assist the team and be the cheerful girl on the other end of the phone.

And last but not least, Lauren O’Hara joins us as an Account Coordinator, working specifically on Kmart. She will be based at Kmart headquarters but will also join AMPR in the office for a day or two each week.

All girls can be reached via e-mail (first name@ampr.com.au) or on our office number (03 9537 3311).

Forever New showcases its Spring collection at Spice Market

2009-07-09T22:28:00.000-07:00

On Monday night Forever New previewed its Spring fashion collection titled ‘Exotic Goddess’ to media, VIPs and staff at Melbourne’s newest hot spot - the exclusive Spice Market in Beaney Lane.

The opulent Middle Eastern inspired venue was the perfect fit to showcase the Forever New collection; which features stunning Grecian style maxi dresses in opulent prints and jewel tones, bold accessories and body con dresses, creating a unique look of modern glamour.

On the night, Melbourne’s young fashion elite were treated to a selection of mezze style dishes of Middle Eastern flavours, designed and overseen by renowned MoMo Executive Chef Greg Malouf, while listening to the rocking sounds of DJ Andy Murphy.

Kudos goes to the male models dressed in ‘Troy-like’ outfits, which made a few hearts race on the night!

Favourite dish would have to be the delicate jeannie bottle arancini stuffed with haloumi – delish!

Tanning Tips from California Tan

2009-07-09T18:38:00.001-07:00

Beat the winter blues with a sunless tan that will help you survive the dreary months. Just because the weather is bad, it doesn’t mean your tan has to be! Here are the top tips from Califonia Tan:

Tanning Preparation

Exfoliate your skin with PRIMER at least 2 hours prior to sunless tanning application to smooth skin for even tanning results. Spend a little extra time on knees, elbows, feet and hands.

Shave at least 6 hours before your sunless tanning session. Wax at least 12 hours before.

Do NOT moisturize skin at least 2 hours prior to your sunless tanning session. Lotions can create a barrier, preventing the absorption of sunless tanning solution and products.

Remove makeup prior to sunless tanning application for best results.

Wear dark, loose fitting clothes. Sunless solution washes out of most clothing, but the immediate cosmetic bronzer could wipe off on lighter clothes, giving a temporary appearance of discoloration.

Do not wear wool, nylon or silk during or after your sunless application for at least 8 hours as bronzer may react with these fabrics and could cause staining.

Looking after your Tan

After your sunless tanning applications, wait at least 6 hours before you shower. This will allow time for the self-tanning reaction to occur on the skin. Leave overnight if possible.

Do not moisturize until after your first shower. This could effect the immediate reaction of the sunless solution on the skin and cause streaking.

Do not swim after your sunless tanning session. Immediate contact with water, chlorine and salt water could effect the immediate reaction of the sunless solution. Also, keep in mind that chlorine and salt water may dry your skin and cause your sunless tan to fade faster.

Wait at least 6 hours before you exercise. Excessive perspiration could effect the immediate reaction of the sunless solution on the skin.

Do NOT exfoliate straight away unless there are areas you want to remove. When you do exfoliate, remember to do so gently and evenly to preserve an even, sunless tan.

Goodbye Egg! sob

2009-06-22T18:30:00.000-07:00

Lil' Sare has flown the AMPR coop for an exciting adventure overseas. We'll all miss her and her amazing sense of style.

Victorian Designers at G'Day UK

2009-06-21T23:31:00.000-07:00

Gwendolynne

L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF) in collaboration with the State Government of Victoria will showcase exceptional Victorian fashion design at an exclusive dinner as part of the inaugural G’Day UK celebrations in London on Saturday June 27 2009.

Held at the exclusive 33 Portland Place, the evening provides an opportunity to profile Victoria’s key areas of business and innovation that distinguish it from other States and territories in Australia. This includes a strong focus on Melbourne as a creative hub and an exciting tourist destination reinforced by its strong focus in fashion, food, wine and lifestyle.

Under the creative direction of Festival Director, Karen Webster, LMFF will curate a fashion installation featuring the innovative works of leading Victorian designers including Toni Maticevski, Gwendolynne (collaboratively with milliner Richard Nylon), MaterialByProduct, Fool, S!X and Dhini. Each of the outfits created especially for G’Day UK will reflect Victoria’s excellence in design, innovation, manufacture, fashion direction and unique styling.

Jessica Mauboy Hits the High Notes at Highpoint

2009-06-15T16:53:00.001-07:00

Over 4000 fans flocked to Highpoint to see Jessica Mauboy perform her new hit single 'Because' on Sunday.

Jessica invited a lucky few up on stage to sing along with her, and signed copies of her album until the centre closed.

The performance marked the end of auditions for the 2009 Star Search, a search that has been discovering talent in the west for 21 years.

The Star Search journey continues with the heats (6 - 10 July), the Semi Final (15 August) and the Grand Final (19 September). For more information go to www.highpoint.com.au

EAT STREET'S WINTER WONDERLAND JUNE 23RD 2009

2009-06-11T22:21:00.000-07:00

Australia’s leading chefs and designers will come together on June 23 at Eat Street’s Winter Wonderland, to raise funds for the Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF).

Eat Street is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and will feature hawker-style stalls from over 30 top chefs and winemakers, alongside great entertainment, celebrities and high fashion.

The Flower Drum, Fifteen Melbourne, Maha Bar and Grill and Vue de Monde are just some of the restaurants taking part. Fashion designers including Alice McCall, Willow, Sass & Bide and Gwendolynne have created hand-crafted, one-off pieces with the theme Winter Wonderland to be auctioned off on the night.

It is sure to be a fantastic night that will see guests enjoying fine food, fashion and entertainment, all in support of a very worthy cause. All proceeds from the night will go directly to the ACF to provide counselling to children traumatised by abuse, neglect and family violence.

WHEN: Tuesday 23rd June from 6pm
WHERE: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, Grand Ballroom
TICKETS: $145 per ticket

TO BOOK: PH: 03 9653 7744 or e-mail H1902-re13@ACCOR.COM

Photography: traceyleehayes.com
Digital: rick @ rapdigital.net
Hair/Makeup & Stylist: Jodie Watts for Sweet Caroline
Model: Abul @ Vivien's Model Management

VIP Shopping Day At Highpoint

2009-06-02T00:23:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday...

Melbourne Central's Winter Shopping Day

2009-05-25T00:46:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday...

I love...

2009-05-24T20:49:00.001-07:00

This little Alex Monroe bee is so sweet it has all the girls in the office buzzing with excitement. Soon to be available at Grace, his entire range is worth a look!

Japanese Menswear

2009-05-19T22:04:00.000-07:00

Bought an Assin single/double hybrid black jacket the other day. I love when something ostensibly simple has a subtle twist, or nuance that makes it different and therefore you feel that bit more special.

Same goes for The Viridi-anne, now on sale at Cose Ipanema in Melbourne. This is a great example of simple executed brilliantly; cut, colour, structure, texture - all have a role to play.

The Viridi-anne is a Japanese menswear label with a well-earned reputation internationally for its use of superb materials, craftsmanship and style.

For the spring/summer '09 collection, ‘Breathe’ The Viridi-anne’s ever-inventive designer Tomoaki Okaniwa focused on a different way of presenting the collection.

A special conceptual film installation was produced, inspired by Japanese visual creators Shimurabros and first shown in Paris, then in Tokyo.

The Viridi-anne’s esoteric designs were born from Okaniwa's dissatisfaction with the clothes he saw around him. Although coming from a fine arts background, he began to make apparel that embodies an aesthetic motto of ‘quiet and strong’.

Of this duality in the spring/summer '09 collection, Okaniwa explains: "On the outside the designs are simple, but inside they are really strong, complex and comfortable".

The Viridi-anne is stocked internationally in leading boutiques including Cose Ipanema in Melbourne, Le Bon Marche in Paris, Vertice in London and Atelier New York.

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY KMART!

2009-05-19T20:19:00.000-07:00

This month Kmart turned 40 and AMPR were onboard to help them celebrate the special occasion.

We held a morning tea at Kmart Burwood (‘K1’), where Kmart began as Australia’s first discount retailer back in 1969.

Kmart’s Managing Director, Guy Russo, spoke to past and present employees and customers who had travelled far and wide to join in the celebrations. He was also joined by Helen Harris, Mayor of the City of Whitehorse and Keith Rooney, then Mayor of Nunawading who ‘cut the ribbon’ at the Kmart Burwood in 1969.

Special thanks go to Rod Stebbins, Kmart Burwood’s Store Manager from 1969 who flew down with his wife Estelle from Tweed Heads and had more than a few good stories to share. Things have definitely changed since then but it seems Kmart is still providing customers with great quality products at great value.

Read more here....

This Winter – We Love…

2009-05-19T17:20:00.001-07:00

Show off your tough side with this winter’s Chinese Laundry Bounty heels. Braided, crossed and weaved supple leather straps shape to your foot, while a back full zipper and antique eyelets add danger to this glamorous style! Wooden heel and 1" platform with a 5 1/4 inch" heel

Bounty Heels $239.95

AMPR Showings

2009-05-18T23:28:00.000-07:00

The AMPR bi-annual Sydney media showings will be held at Susie Sharrock Agency in fashionable East Sydney next week.

Over 50 key media, stylists and industry contacts will be the first to view spring/summer collections from our fabulous clients over the five days.

Brands including Pepe Jeans, Forever New, Cose Ipanema, Samsonite, Levante, Ambra, Jonathon Aston, Croft, Chinese Laundry, Joanne Mercer and Zoe Elizabeth Bikinis will showcase the hottest new trends for next season.

LiveStyle VIP Preview Party Pics

2009-04-13T22:41:00.000-07:00

LiveStyle had a very special preview party last wednesday. thanks to the amazing Tiffiny, Sam and Rhys for all their support

Rhys & Sam

Rhys & Tiffiny

Amy & Luke

Daniel & Grant

Thanks to Anthony Licuria for the pics.

This Week I Love...

2009-04-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

GRACE knitwear made from 100% luscious Italian Merino wool and available in soft wintry tones such as supermélange grey, ballet pink, dusty mauve, sage & liquorice. Cosy styles include the Bracelet Sleeve Cardigan & V-neck Boyfriend Sweater Dress - the perfect winter warmer! Prices start from $258.

A designer's (well nearly) account…

2009-03-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

* Alexis Belcher works at AMPR and is an extremely talented young designer. We asked her to share her account of taking part in the 2009 L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival.

Photo - Lucas Dawson

For the first time, the L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival held a Student Showcase called Metamorphosis - which I was lucky enough and thrilled to be a part of.

Last November, RMIT final year fashion students were invited to submit an application to be part of this show. For the application we were required to submit a selection of past works, as well as the six-piece collection we intended to show.

I saw this as an opportunity to expand and refine my graduate collection entitled ‘pleats and pixels’. For me this evolution involved taking the weaving element and developing that into a print, making some of pieces a little more affordable for my target market.

Initially, I don’t think any of us quite realized how popular the parade would be and that it would be a sell-out. Let alone how much media interest and publicity the parade would generate.

The evening in fact went far too quickly. I wish I‘d been able to pause and slow down the time, so

that I could truly appreciate everything that was happening. I remember realising after Nikolina’s elegantly draped pieces were paraded, that my work was actually next! I felt my stomach lurch!! I’m so proud of my fellow designers and their collections and it was great to see them have their work on the runway. Many of us had included new pieces for the parade and it was thrilling to see how our collections had further evolved.

Each collection was so different from the one before and after. Harmony’s and Sarah Mac’s concepts were conceptual and artistic; who would ever would have imagined that ‘losing your marbles’ or ‘holding on by a thread’ (their inspirations respectively) could be translated into such intriguing garments. I think Michelle’s collection was brilliant; especially considering the starting point for her pieces was a collection of under water biological illustrations. I still can’t believe how perfectly she cut out all those circles and hexagons by hand!

Following the parade, the feedback has been very positive. It was great to read other interpretations of our collections.

One question that people have repeatedly asked me is “Why so much colour, in such a bleak financial climate?” My answer is simply “Why black?” Originally, the decision for my colour palette was influenced by my trip to Vietnam, I was struck by the enormous range of vibrantly coloured fabrics that I saw everywhere. Perhaps Melbournians could use a little more colour in their lives…

Hopefully this will be the first of many showings of my work during the L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival. The opportunity and support we were given have been invaluable, and I’m so very grateful to Karen Webster for picking this year for the first Inaugural Student Showcase.

* You can see all the designs from the Metamorphosis Student Showcase here

H&M in Australia

2009-03-09T19:58:00.000-07:00

Margareta van den Bosch

Margareta van den Bosch and Matthew Williamson

We're all so excited to have Margareta van den Bosch, Creative Advisor to H&M in Melbourne for the L'Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2009 Business Seminar. She will be be speaking about the H&M story, in particular how she helped orchestrate the amazing collaborations with designers including Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli, Viktor & Rolf and now, Matthew Williamson. Tickets are still available for the Business Seminar.

Forever New Delivers Music to Their Ears

2009-03-04T22:09:00.000-08:00

Forever New who are having their first ever Pop Up show at LMFF are kindly donating 15 iPods to burns victims at The Alfred Hospital tomorrow.

In an effort to help victims with their recovery from the devastating Black Saturday bushfires, Peter Hitchener will personally deliver the ipods on behalf of the team at Forever New.

We wish all victims a fast recovery.

Happy Birthday Egg!

2009-02-26T17:28:00.000-08:00

It's Sarah's Bday today - all our love and best wishes!
xxxxx

The Rise of the Mum Blogger

2009-02-25T22:39:00.000-08:00

What’s with the cyber-mummies?! If there is one group that’s really latched onto online it’s our mums and mums-to-be. Carting the pram and the endless amount of baby paraphernalia along to catch up with friends is a thing of the past! Stay-at-home mums, office mums, cafe latte drinking mums, sky-diving mums – all have opted to instantly connect to a network of like minded individuals and share stories, advice, concerns and friendships (as girls do).

Besides all the tips and advice there are actually some very funny mums out there, sharing their everyday loves and gripes. The UK seems to be a breeding ground (pardon the pun) for particularly witty ones.

As the slavish magazine junkies that we are here, we’ve also caught onto the steady rise of parenting and baby titles on the newsstand.

This whole trend seems to play into an evolution of the play-group, the Tupperware party or Avon Lady drop-ins – but with bite and all done in your dressing gown whilst little John and Jane sit glued to Dora the Explorer.

Couple of shameless plugs on the good work being done by our lovely clients…

Kmart is on the search for a Super Saving mum who will share tips via a monthly video blog in exchange for Kmart gift cards.

OiOi Baby bags, the original stylish baby bag, have a fabulous online store which has contributed to their incredible success and awards internationally.

HOTmilk Lingerie for pregnant and nursing mothers has launched a brand new website with an online forum, interactive fitting room and feature where women can send an email ‘hint’ to their partners revealing what they have in mind for their next birthday or special anniversary.
And way before AMPR became all digital, Kate Forster was doing an amazing job with her Spiritual Business blog. Well worth a read.

So the perfect gift for mum for Mothers’ Day, how about a mobile wireless setup with a laptop?

Heels or High Water

2009-02-16T17:39:00.000-08:00

Two articles in the Melbourne media recently covered the latest penchant for tottering, vertigo-inducing, ankle snapping high heels.

Jan Breen Burns in Saturday’s Age attributes this to the lunacy of youth or its ‘fashenthusiasextremism’. Throughout Melbourne’s shops, examples of these 15cm beauties are on show, including from our own Chinese Laundry.

At the other end of the spectrum are ‘man-heels’, the latest fad and logical evolution from the ‘man-bag’, the ‘murse’ and the slightly creepy ‘mantihose’. Rachel Wells charts the rise of the ‘man heel’ in the Sunday Age, referring to Dior Homme’s offering a couple of seasons ago and Marc Jacobs’ saying he too “can suffer for fashion” after wearing Rick Owens heels. Paul la Rosa of ultra-stylish Croft men’s shoes said “men don’t want to be overshadowed by their stiletto-clad wives or girlfriends”.

Is it this ‘Sarkozy Effect’ instead?

AMPR have a different theory. Rather than the fashion world’s shorter mavens starting this, how about the traditional Aussie bloke? After all, any browse through the range on offer at RM Williams over the last 20 years would reveal not only stacked heels, but Cuban-inspired cut-out versions.

Our lone male staffer says that his Cubans were originally designed as the ‘gentleman’s choice’ for dress shoes. Perfect for the B&S ball perhaps? Marc Jacobs in Broken Hill?

YouTube Channel

2009-02-14T20:14:00.000-08:00

LMFF Tweets NY Fashion Week

2009-02-12T22:11:00.000-08:00

Festival Chair Laura Anderson is on-the-ground at NY Fashion Week!

She'll be sharing her thoughts, observations and experiences as they happens. To follow Laura's tweets, you can do so here

The LMFF Twitter account will be running hot as we fast approach Festival, with on the spot tweeting from all the best shows and events.

XX

The Team

2009-02-12T19:31:00.000-08:00

Back (L-R): Sarah E, Jannah, Sarah G, Bec, Brooke
Front: Ben, Ann, Georgie
Absent: Catherine, Lily
* Thanks for the photo Serge!!

Behind the LMFF Creative

2009-02-11T17:11:00.000-08:00

The stunning images for the LMFF Creative featured an all-star team of talent behind the scenes.

The concept was developed with the creative genius of paper stone scissors, now a Major Partner to LMFF

Photographed by the globally renowned Juli Balla and shot in the state of the art facilities at Sun Studios in Sydney. The ethereal beauty of the two evocative models Jira Kohl and Valerija Erokhina were made even more powerful with the innocative make-up meticulously airbushed by L'Oréal Paris Make-Up Director Rae Morris.

The images came alive with the talented styling and deft craft of Richard Nylon under the creative direction of Festival Director Karen Webster.

AMPR loves!!!

LMFF Program Announced

2009-02-11T17:03:00.000-08:00

The 2009 LMFF program was announced on Tuesday. Chair Laura Anderson led a minute's silence for the victims of the Black Saturday bushfires.

Launching on March 15, the Festival features eight days of activity showcasing the best in design, culture and fashion.

Now in its 13th year, LMFF is an exceptional event for Melbourne and Australia. As the biggest consumer fashion event in the world, LMFF engages and excites the public about fashion while driving consumer spending.

In light of the current economic climate, LMFF has a vibrant and optimistic philosophy, focused on meeting the challenges facing the industry head-on.

For the full program visit the LMFF website.

Our First Post

2009-02-11T16:38:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first post on the AMPR blog on what is a very sad week for Victoria and all of Australia. We’ve all witnessed the horror unfolding and have been deeply affected by the stories of those we know and those we don’t.

On a positive note is how the community rallies together in times of deep grief. From big business to small children, the outpouring of generosity is truly humbling. We hope that the support given can contribute somewhat to the re-building of lives and the comfort of those who have lost loved ones, property and possessions.

Acknowledging a couple of examples from our own client base:

Kmart will be providing support to those communities who have lost life and or property in the bushfires:

Store Managers who operate stores in affected areas are able to provide those families who have lost their homes a $500 gift card.

They have created the Kmart Bushfire Wishing Appeal to collect money on behalf of the Salvation Army at each Kmart and KTAS store around Australia - that’s 433 locations around Australia where our customers can help. Cash contributions can be made at any Kmart or KTAS register and all the proceeds will go directly to those who need urgent help via the Salvation Army.

Kmart will donate $100,000 to the Salvation Army so they can buy Kmart goods for distribution to affected families and communities.

David Jones has made similar efforts:

They will make an immediate $500,000 donation of David Jones Gift Cards to Australian Red Cross for distribution to those most in need as they rebuild their lives and their community.

David Jones will also donate the profit earned from all 37 David Jones stores nationally on Thursday 12 February 2009 to Red Cross.

In addition, from Tuesday 10th February 2009, until the end of the month, David Jones offered customers and staff the ability to donate to Red Cross through making a contribution at any register in any David Jones store across the country.

HOW TO HELP

Our blog is all about sharing our opinions on anything and everything affecting our industry. From the latest in online PR trends to our favourite frocks, we hope you visit us often.

Ann