Introducing District8, a new retail site that brings the world’s top shopping destinations to your laptop. Plus, we love Rebecca Vallance‘s Jackie O inspired collection, and lust after the exquisite designs from this year’s Diamond Guild Australia Jewellery Design Award.
By Bianca Healey.
Introducing: District 8
The online marketplace is looking pretty well stocked these days, with an online retailer to tailor for all of our fashion needs; Net-a-Porter for international designers, ASOS for fast-fashion trends that you know won’t outlast the season, Etsy for rare vintage finds. But a start-up with a difference will always find a niche, and we have great expectations for Sydney-based District8.
The pitch is simple: they locate the smaller, unique boutiques that the larger sites overlook and bring them to your laptop.
By choosing an iconic shopping district in London, Sydney or New York, (there are more cities coming!) you can shop the neighbourhood through a collation of seasonal lookbooks and current collections. You can also create your own shopping district by selecting your favourite stores from around the world.
This unique shopping district gives you access to the retailer’s latest trend information, brand updates, sales, news and social media posts together in one place. District8 gathers up each news update and sends you a personalised newsletter straight to your inbox.
Sara Kaplan, District8’s fashion editor from London says “I love that District8 champions the small retailers, unique independent boutiques and hidden alleyway finds, as well as the premier high street destinations that I loved most about living in London.”
The site currently features over 500 stores, complete with all store information, imagery, style tags and direct links to their e-commerce stores. You can browse, filter and purchase directly from the retailers own website, limiting your search to those stores which deliver directly to you.
District8 went live last week- and Paris and Hong Kong will be added soon.
What do you think?
Take a look at www.district8.com
Rebecca Vallance Autumn Winter 2014
There’s nothing like Christmas in New York, and Rebecca Vallance was in a New York state of mind when designing her Autumn Winter 2014 collection, which takes its inspiration from the First Lady of style, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The Australian designer continues to expand her international following with her take on 1960s New York elegance that translates to the brand’s feminine yet tailored aesthetic.
Shift and sheath dresses are the main focus, modernised with subtle details like asymmetrical pleating and draping. Jackie influences are everywhere; there are peplum pencil skirts and cropped tailored jackets, which can be worn together for a polished look, or mixed and matched with more relaxed tees for a contemporary update on the looks that defined the Kennedy era. Timeless trenches and car coats are also updated, while moto- style zippers lends just enough of a rebellious edge to rough up more classic pieces for day to day wear.
The resulting pieces have spectacular names too, like The Carrie and City of Blinding Lights dresses, wrought from watercolour floral double neoprene. There are also gold lame tweed A-line skirts and structured jackets for those days that are more “Onassis” than “Kennedy.”
We can’t go past a Jackie-themed collection. Get a head start on your Winter wardrobe planning and take a look at the collection at
Diamond Guild Australia: Jewellery Design Awards 2013
The Diamond Guild Australia Jewellery Design Award is the most prestigious national award for diamond jewellery design, and we were able to take a peek at some of the stunning creations crafted by this year’s finalists.
Held every two years, the award provides jewellery designers with the opportunity to highlight their talent, craftsmanship, and vision by creating pieces using diamonds and precious metals.
The Chrysalis necklace, pictured, was designed by award winning jewellery designer Nadia Neuman, and inspired by the wonder of transformation in the natural world.
The piece can be worn open to reveal a stunning and ornate diamond butterfly, or worn with the jewels concealed as a hand carved white and rose gold cocoon for the wearer to secretly enjoy. It is the remarkable result of over 250 hours of craftsmanship, approximately 8 carats of diamonds and a combination of white and rose gold slung on a fully adjustable handcrafted sautoir.
“Chrysalis is a representation of transformation, and the wonder in change and transition. It is to remind us of the beauty which lies within, and of the remarkable and inspiring miracle that is nature.” Says Neuman.
Nadia Neuman is the Creative Director of the Mondial group, and is recognised as one of Australia’s most reputable and distinguished jewellery designers. Known for her unique ability to tell a story through precious gems, she has previously garnered numerous awards from national and international bodies.
Mondial is located in Sydney, with exclusive boutiques in the Strand Arcade and Queen Victoria Building.
You can discover similar exquisite designs at