Dani Garner

La Bella Vita. would like to introduce DANI GARNER...



Dani is the winner of the AMF & La Bella Vita joint promotion competition held in November. We got to chat to the beautiful 23 year old Townsville model about her passion for modelling, how she got her start and where she hopes to go from here. Check it!

So Dani, when did you start modelling and what first got you interested in modelling or prompted you to start?
I started Modeling maybe over a year ago. My mum got me interested in modeling when she mentioned a few competitions to go in where i was quiet successful which gave me more incentive to do more and go further.

What do you enjoy most about modelling and is there anything you dislike?
What i enjoy most about modeling is the fact that you can travel and experience meeting some amazing people, i love getting my hair and makeup done and feeling amazing!



What has been your biggest career acomplishment to date?
My biggest career accomplishment in the modeling industry is winning Miss Indy Townsville and traveling to the Goldcoast to compete with 18 stunning women from all over Australia and New Zealand in the National Final! I got a lot of experience in doing that where I got a taste of what the modeling industry is like with all the glamour and media.

Do you have a favourite modelling memory?
One of my favorite modeling memories would be when I first entered a magazine comp held here in Townsville which they called the 12 faces of Duo, hundreds of variety aged women applied to be on the front cover of the magazine for a month of the year. I succeeded and made it into the top 12 and had a lot of fun doing the photo shoot as it was my first ever experience in modelling.

Is there a particular style of modelling your prefer?
My preferred modeling is definitely fashion, I would love to do fashion shoots for magazines.



What are your hopes for your career in modelling and what have you got planned for the next few months in regards to your career?
My hopes for my modeling career is to travel for shoots and gain more experience in the industry. I have no plans for the next few months as yet but definitely would jump at an opportunity if one was to rise.

What advice would you give girls looking to get in to the modelling industry?
The advice I would give to girls wanting to do modeling especially any competition modelling is to not get yourself down if you don't succeed straight away, keep your head high and try again. Someone out there is bound to see your talent as your experience builds. Everyone is beautiful in their own way and it just takes time and confidence.

 

 

 

 

 

My Must Haves.

I love experimenting with different styles, new looks and colours but I always have in my closet my must have pieces. They're timeless, wear anywhere at anytime pieces that I always turn to.

Here's my top 5 must have pieces that I absolutely love and think every girl should have in her closet...

1. A Little Black Dress

This is one piece I just couldn't live without and I truely think every girl needs the perfect LBD. They are such versatile pieces and can take you from day to night simply by changing up your accessories, make up or hair style.

Boohoo.com.au

$40.00

 

 

2. Winter Coats

 

Probably my favourite of all my must have pieces. I have so many winter coats I'm starting to think I'll need to invest in a closet just for them! I love trying different lengths, colours and textures and mixing them with pieces that you wouldnt usually wear them with.

 

theiconic.com.au

$299.00

 

 

3. Skinny Jeans

 

I absolutely love my skinny jeans and I couldn't image my wardrobe without at least one pair. I suggest having a pair in a darker shade, such as black or dark indigo, as these colours are versatile and slimming.

 

Jay Jays Black Skinny Jeans

$39.95

 

 

4. Heels

 

Every girl needs one great pear of heels. A pair you only pull out on a special occasion but can instantly make you feel a million dollars.

If I had my way (and could afford it!) my go to pair of heels would be Louboutins but I'm not sure that will ever happen. Instead my go to's are a pair of Peter Morrissey ankle booties with these amazing gold zippers. They make me so much taller and I absolutely love them.

 

Peter Morrissey Ankle Boots

 

 

5. Tee/Blouse

 

I think the staple of every single wardrobe is a plain white tee or blouse. They are such versatile pieces, you can dress them up or down. Plus, they're a no fail easy option if you're not feeling so creative.

I pair mine with high waisted skirts, shorts, jeans, layer them, wear blazers or leather jackets over them to give them edge. There really are never ending options for these pieces.

If you haven't got one in your wardrobe then you need to rush out now and buy one!

 





boohoo.com.au

$36.00







 



Influential Women

I feel like we might be slowly getting back in to an era where younger women might actually have role models who will be influential for the right reasons.... do you agree?


Hayden Panettiere



Hayden is a spokesperson for Ronald McDonald House, a member of the Whaleman Foundation, was awarded the "Compassion in Action Award" from the animal rights group PETA for her efforts to stop the dolphin hunt in Japan and is a teen ambassador for the Candie's Foundation, whose mission is to prevent teen pregnancy. Hayden is also a successful actress, singer and model.

Hilary Duff

 

 

Hilary donated $250,000 to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina in addition to donating over 2.5 million meals to Hurricane Katrina victims, she is a member of Kids with a Cause, has served on the Advisory Board of the Audrey Hepburn Child Benefit Fund and the Celebrity Council of Kids with a Cause, was named as a Youth Ambassador to the children of the Colombian capital Bogota and is a strong animal rights supporter. Hilary is also a successful television/movie actress, singer, clothing designer, perfume creator and a successful writer (and a NY Times best seller).

 

Leighton Meester

 

 

 

 

Leighton is not only a successful actress and a talented singer/songwriter but she has also teamed up with Safe Horizon to raise awareness about and prevent domestic violence and has taken part in Bulgari's humanitarian efforts for the Save the Children organization with Isabella Rossellini and Maribel Verdútaken.

 

 

Miranda Kerr

 

 

 

 

Miranda is a buddist and believes we have a responsibility to bring peace and harmony to our lives and the world. She participated in the "Australia Unites" fundraiser to raise money for the victims of the Australian bushfires, her charitable work includes Wildlife Warriors Worldwide and Children International.  Kerr released an inspirational self-esteem book, Treasure Yourself which is aimed at female teenagers. Miranda has also launched her own line of organic skin care products.

 

 

Demi Lovato

 

 

 

 

Demi is a successful television actress and singer. She has certainly had her fair share of struggles with body image and bullying but now Demi is a spokesperson for anti-bullying organization PACER and a spokesperson for the Join the Surge Campaign!, DoSomething.Org and the Clean & Clear Brand launched Joining the Surge, which is a national campaign that empowers teenagers to take action in their communities. Demi is also involved in Disney's Friends for Change, an organization which promotes "environmently-friendly behavior". Lovato has also supported charities such as DonateMyDress.org, Kids Wish Network, Love Our Children USA, ST. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and City of Hope. Demi also became a Contributing Editor to Seventeen magazine to discuss her personal issues as a part of a larger campaign called "Love is Louder than the Pressure to Be Perfect", directed towards teen girls. Demi has also been honored The Honorary Ambassador of Education award from the American Partnership For Eosinophilic Disorders.









Napoleon Perdis

I have been wanting to buy NP products for quite a while and was um-ing and ah-ing over whether or not to spend the money but I finally made up my mind and recently bought the NP 'It Take Two' foundation and concealer pot!

The 'It Takes Two' pot has a flap lid with a mirror underneath where the concealer is stored and then the whole top screws off so you can use he foundation. All up the post cost about $35 - which is good value considering you get both foundation and concealer.

The NP foundation goes on so easily and thanks to its clever saptula design you don't waste a bunch by having to tip the bottle up. I find that with a little powder over the top I can get it to last all day and the even coverage (even with only a small amount) is great for me as well, because of my freckles!

I also bought the miracle blender sponge (that funny little purple thing!). I'd recently seen a video review on them and how they are... dare I say it, revoluntionary! I actually LOVE it. Its alot more dense than a normal sponge so you don't get as much wastage and the shape and tapered top means that its easier to apply around your brow line and around your eyes.

All up, Im pretty darn happy with the NP product and I'd definitely recommend it! <3

Florals

To be honest I have very rarely worn florals, so me writing a blog on florals seemed like a bit of a stretch at first. But, I must admit that reading about the florals, which by the way is supposed to be a huge Spring hit, really opened my eyes up to the trend. I'm now actually looking forward to Spring and can't wait to experiment with some floral pieces!

 Check out my top 5 tips for florals...

Tip 1 – Make a statement by starting small

Trying any new trend for the first time and making it fit in with your existing wardrobe can be very tricky. My top tip here, for those who are trying a new trend and not quite sure how to do it, is to use accessories or shoes. Accessories and shoes are a great way to use new colours, fabrics, textures etc (in this case florals) without feeling like you might go overboard.

Darsha Black Floral Wedges ($79.95) available from Style Tread http://www.styletread.com.au/darsha-black-floral.html

 

Tip 2 – Use florals to compliment your outfit

One of the most amazing trends I have spotted this year is tattoo-ed nails. I'm not absolutely sure whether it's been done before or who even started the trend but I am absolutely in love with it. I can just imagine a beautiful Spring picnic on a great lawn, everyone dressed beautifully in floral and sporting matching nails.

The best thing about this trend is that it isn't hard to do! All you need is a nail polish colour of your choice, nail transfers and a clear top coat. Simply paint your nails with a base coat wait for it to dry and then apply the transfer to the nail, wait for it to dry and then apply the clear top coat.

An example of tattoo-ed nails.You can find nail transfers and more at The Nail Shop http://www.thenailshop.com.au/

 

Tip 3 – Using florals to flatter your shape

The great thing about prints (including florals!) is that they can be used to flatter your body shape. The most flattering floral prints for curvier body shapes is something that has a big, bold print. A small floral print on curvier woman can look too dainty and make you appear bigger than you actually are. Smaller prints are the best for women who are tall and slender as bold prints have the ability to overwhelm your shape.

Vivian Blue Belle Dress ($194.95) available from Birds Nest http://www.birdsnest.com.au/brands/retrospecd/16686-vivian-blue-belle-dress#BlueBelle

 

Tip 4 – Don't be afraid to stand out from the crowd

I did a little experiment and asked people exactly what came to mind when they first though of floral prints. The results were much the same – vibrant colours, beautiful fabrics/patterns and girly spring dresses. But, lets be honest not everyone's style is the same and we shouldn't all have to wear our florals in the same way.

My top tip here is to not be afraid to stand out from the crowd. There's no rule book to fashion, so in my book it is absolutely okay to turn florals a little grunge. Wear them with leather jackets and bold accessories. You'll be surprised with the results!

An example of how to grunge up florals.

 

Tip 5 – Don't be afraid to mix and match

There are so many rules of fashion and one my absolute least favourite is: NEVER wear more than one print.

I will admit that this is an extremely tricky trend and if it's not executed correctly then it can go horribly wrong. But it CAN be done!

My top tip here is to scour fashion magazines and copy celebrity style. Celebrities hire stylists to help them look good on a day to day basis and you can rest assured that if a celebrity is taking the risk of matching prints then they've consulted with a stylist. You can't go wrong!

The normal person could probably never, ever afford what Leighton is wearing here on the set of Gossip Girl but this is a great example of how to pull off using different prints in one outfit.

 

 



 

Cocktail Jars

I am obsessed with cocktail jars lately... They are a super cute and quirky alternative to your usual cocktail glasses and probably a lot more affordable as well! The best part is that you pretty much have free range of what to put in them!

I've chosen to feature (which I am yet to try!) the blueberry infused vodka cocktail.

Basically, all you need to do is half fill the jar with vodka and then add a handful of blueberries (fresh or frozen, its up to you!). Leave the jar to sit overnight and the vodka will start to turn a beautiful pink-purple colour. Then, all you need to do is add some lemonade and granish with a lemon slice!

So cute and so, so summery!

Here are some more examples of cocktail jars...

 

 

 

 

Pastels

Pastels were a big trend of Autumn 2012 seen both on the catwalk by designers such as Ralph Lauren and on celebrities like Jessica Alba and Mila Kunis. But, just because Autumn has come and gone doesn't mean pastels should as well.

Pastels are a fun way to add colour to your wardrobe without feeling like you're going too overboard. They are versatile and can be worn either as a block of colour (for the bold!) or as a compliment to a simpler outfit. Read below my top 5 ways to inject pastels into your wardrobe...

Number 1 – Accessories

Accessories are a great way to incorporate pastels in to your outfit without jumping right in to the trend. For example, pastel coloured clutches, heels or accessories will look fabulous with a little black dress.

Pastel Pop Collar available from http://diva.net.au/shop/necklaces/pastel-pop-collar.html $29.99

Number 2 – Prints

Wearing all over colour can be daunting especially if you've never tried it before. One way to combat this is to use pastels with prints. You still get the effect of the colour without feeling as though you are too OTT.

Hassle N Tease Dress available from http://www.lucyinthesky.com/shop/hassle-n-tease-dress ($44.00)

Number 3 – Beauty Products

Beauty product ranges are a lot more diverse now than they used to be and we are able to experiment with more styles, colours and learn new techniques. One of my favourite beauty trends is ombre, and luckily for me (and you!) ombre and pastels work fabulously together.

Revlon have a huge range of nail polish including beautiful pastels. See the whole range here: http://products.revlon.com.au/nails/nail-enamels-amp-remover

Number 4 – Hair

Another huge 2012 trend is dip dyed hair. I absolutely adore this look and if I was lucky enough to have light hair it is definitely something I would be trying. Its not something I would suggest trying at home as colours can vary depending on your natural hair colour so my tip here if you are wanting to try this trend is to visit your hair stylist.

Pastel coloured dip dyed hair.

Number 5 – Colour Blocking

One of my favourite trends of 2012 was colour blocking and pastels work fabulously for this trend because they aren't overpowering colours.

Colour blocking can be a tricky trend to master so my biggest tip here is to choose colours to flow continuously through your outfit and choose colours that will compliment your skin tone.

Colour blocking – examples.

 

Run Away With Me...

So, I have decided to embark on a new winter project. I can't say that it is something I would usually be doing... the majority of my projects are always somehow based around my horses or fashion BUT I've decided that it's finally time. To start running. Yep, I am starting an 8 week running program. The goal is to be able to run 3.2km (or 2 miles) in half an hour.

So, in honour of my new goal I have decided to put together some of my favourite inspirational quotes. Because no doubt, I'll need them...

I'm Obsessed...

Those who know me well could tell you about the numerous hair cuts, hair styles and hair colours I have had over the past few years. I'm naturally brunette but I've gone red, black, plum, hundreds of variations of brown and even blonde once or twice (most of the time unsuccessfully). I've had long hair, short hair, straight hair, wavy hair and even curly hair. O've also had my fair share of good and bad hair cuts.

I personally believe that changing your hair can change your whole 'person', if you're doubting my theory then just think back to a time when you left a salon with the worst hair cut ever. You felt pretty awful right? Well, a good hair cut can do the opposite. It can make you feel absolutely amazing!

So, today I want to share with you my top 5 hair do's!

Number 1 - Beautiful Waves



Waves really do look amazing on anyone, provided you have the length to be able to pull it off. They are SO simple to do and hardly take any time at all. The best part is that they can be casual or you can dress them up for a fancier occasion.

Here's how to do it: To make naturally straight hair wavy, twist damp hair into small sections, twist the sections around your finger and use a bobby pin to hold each section in place at the scalp. Leave the tiny twists in for about thirty minutes or until you finish drying your hair. Let it fall down (do not brush!) and use your fingers to create lift at the roots and a little extra tousle throughout (scrunch, scrunch, scrunch). Curl the ends with a curling iron for a more polished look.


Number 2 - Balayage



Tricky to say but not so tricky to pull off. Balayage is something that was done in the 70's but it has just come back in to fashion.

Balayage is a freehand technique where colour is applied by hand, rather than with foils or caps, to create highlights. The good news is that balayage is also a good investment for girls who are strapped for cash as it's a lot easier to maintain. You'll only need to make trips to the salon every couple of months!

My biggest tip here is to visit your hair stylist to achieve this do. Using the balayage effect can really dry our your hair, plus your hair stylist will achieve lighter locks much easier at a salon than you would be able to at home.


Number 3 - Middle Parts



I love middle parts. I honestly believe that any face shape can pull of the middle part and have it flatter them as well.

People tend to think that middle parts are a little bit boring but there is so much you can do with this particular style including both up and down styles, straight, curly, wavy. Plus it's a great option if you a short on time.

Number 4 - Braids



I have always been a huge fan of braiding. Although, I am the first to admit that it is a tricky skill to master.

The reason why I love braids is because they are so diverse. You can have them tight and sleek for more formal occasions or leave them loose and messy if you are going for a more casual or boho feel.

One of the simplest ways to use this trend is to do plaits (like above) and pull them back into a messy bun.

Number 5 - Colour



I've never been brave enough to pull off a bold colour but I see people all the time with bright, bold hair and think how amazing it looks.

This is definitely not a trend for the shy and acheiving these colours at home can be a little tricky, so my top tip here is to pay a visit to your hair stylist if you are wanting to go bright! 

Winter 2012

It's that time of year fashionista's... time to see what will be in store for Autumn/Winter 2012!

The fashion that we are seeing on the runway for the Autumn/Winter season includes angular cutouts, fabric contrasts, cut off styles, jackets of all lengths and a mix of military and androgynous styles.
Autumn/Winter fashion is not without it's feminimity, this season we will see the return of 50's style dresses with cinched waists, flowy fabrics, lace and soft prints. We will also see a return to the 70's with flared pants and wedged shoes and boots.

Italian Autumn/Winter Fashion



London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter Fashion

Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter Fashion

New York Fashion Week Autumn/Winter Fashion

What some of our home grown designers are doing for the upcoming season...



David Jones Autumn/Winter Collection 2012

Sass & Bide Autumn/Winter Collection 2012

Alex Perry Autumn/Winter Collection 2012

Department store, Myer, is yet to release it's Autumn/Winter 2012 collection. The collection will be officially released at their Autumn Winter Fashion Parades in Melbourne on March 2. 



Women In The Industry

Women In The Industry is a business that I started in December 2011 after I realised how difficult it was for women to break into the fashion industry. One of the things I noticed was that most fashion related roles, whether you be a model, photographer, stylist etc, required previous experience which of course is hard to attain if most roles have require you to have experience in the first place. So came the concept of Women In The Industry, a TFP organisation that would bring together photographers, models, stylists, designers, make up and hair artists together to work on projects with one common goal, to gain the much needed experience required to break in to the industry.

I started the Women In The Indsutry facebook page and didn't really have any expectations of what it would become. I decided that I would use inspiration images so the women on the page could register for roles they were interested in and that matched their skills list. I began taking applications for roles in late December.

In January, as Women In The Industry started getting bigger and gaining more popularity, I decided to bring extra help on board in the form of adminstrators. Davina Moynahan joined WITI in late January as the Marketing, Advertising and Charities Administrator and then in February, Mel came on board as our tech guru and Amanda Clarke and Taleah Clare Baird came on board as casting administrators.

Women In The Industry has grown to over 550 clients in just three short months, has cast the majority of the community in shoots and charity projects and is taking on exciting new clients and campaigns.

Women In The Industry is a one of a kind concept, an original concept that had never been considered before, and is to date the only concept dedicated to bringing women who are interested in working in the fashion industry the professional experience they need to break in to the industry.

Our goals for the future are to expand the business to be able to cater to even more clients through photo shoots, charity work, campaigns and events.

To be involved please visit:
www.facebook.com/womenintheindustry

Examples of WITI work:

Model: Caitlin Redgrave

MUA: Michelle Dube

Photographer: Willow Belle Portraits

Model: Melissa Hanes

MUA: Ayla Weeks

Stylist & Photographer: Keziah Sugarat

Model: Rea Jane

MUA: Karen Chapman

Hair: Genevieve Baba

Stylist: Mel Issa

Photographer: Bababoom Photography

Model: Harmony

MUA: Jewleyah Sophia Márquez

Photographer: Seray Niyazi