Sometimes, less is more and this is definitely the case in the breathtakingly beautiful shoot ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ for Under The Influence magazines’s spring-summer issue.
German model Elena Bartels poses amongst grey skies on the seaside, reflecting all that is graceful and serene in an array of simplistic and minimalistic pieces.
We love the haunting innocence of these images, with the understated and sophisticated spring fashions from the likes of Mui Mui, Marni and Ports 1961, set against a moody and stark backdrop. The shoot reflects just the right amounts of moodiness and romanticism, while still looking chic and elegant.

Images via: www.fashiongonerogue.com

Californian born trio HAIM have been on our radar for a while with what has been described as “nu-folk–meets–nineties–R&B” sound. The long locked sisters and drummer Dash Hutton has been making waves in the music business, since releasing their first EP Forever in 2012. Making the rounds of international music festivals and collaborating with music heavy weights, this band is definitely one to watch. Not only do we love their tunes, but there 1970’s influenced, edgy vintage style, with ankle boots, vintage dresses, denim and leather among their on-stage essentials. We can’t wait to check out the girls when they head over for Splendour in The Grass and a round of Australian sideshows late next month. 

Holly Ryan is a up and coming jewellery designer residing on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, based in the same neighborhood as LILYA HQ. We sat down with Holly recently to chat about her upcoming collection, personal style and what inspires her the most. Keep and eye out for some of Holly’s designs in the new LILYA’S S/S13 campaign and in even more exciting news, we will be collaborating with the jewellery designer for a special design for LILYA’s A/W 14 collection!

Hi Holly! Tell us a little about how Holly Ryan jewellery was born?
I studied Fashion design at QUT, in my final year we had the option to design and have made an accessories line to compliment our mainline clothing collection to travel down the runway or to write an essay. My parents are both silversmiths having learnt their craft in Mexico before I was born so the natural choice for me was to design some jewellery which my Mother could make. Excitingly Thea Basiliou, owner of the incredible Brisbane boutique ‘Blonde Venus‘ loved the jewellery and asked to stock it! I begun to learn silversmithing shortly afterwards and the whole business has naturally evolved from that point.

You are about to launch your new collection ‘Aurora’, how did this collection come to be and what is your design process like when coming up with a collection?
I always need to take a holiday, a roadtrip or something similar to clear my head, to be amongst nature to chill out and let the creative process and inspiration come naturally. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with an idea and have to immediately sketch it down. Sometimes I will see a film or visit a location that gets me so excited that an entire collection will unfold from this point. Aurora SS13 was inspired by Aurora Australis, commonly known as the Southern Lights, the spectacular natural light displays encountered in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. A phenomenon caused by charged particles from the solar wind striking atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, the Aurora Australis exhibits beautiful curtains of coloured light bearing striking similarities to the brilliant colours trapped deep within the earth in the miracle of opal. Aurora SS13 encapsulates this likeness, with cascading opal designs featuring stones from Coober Pedy & Lightening Ridge.

We love the handmade and organic aesthetic that is engrained in your brand, how important is this to you?
It means everything to me to create quality long lasting pieces of jewellery. My skin is so sensitive to any cheaper metals and for this reason I have only ever created sterling silver or 9ct gold jewellery. I want to make things that last, that outlive trends and that can be worn everyday. I personally wear a ‘Holly’ opal ring, a LUSHLIFE crescent moon ring and a few pairs of studs everyday. Keep it simple I say!

Silversmithing, sounds like a labour of love! What music do you have playing in the studio to pass the time?
Ohh it is definitely a labour of love, I love my music and it really helps soothe me when I am stressed out. I am loving and currently playing on high rotation, Tame Impala, Bonobo, Alt-J, Active Child, Little Dragon, Kurt Vile, Tycho, Mark Mcguire and the new Daft Punk album. And then there are my faves on vinyl…Bob Dylan, CSNY, INXS, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Jonathon Richman….Sorry
to go on!

How would you describe your personal style?Anything 70′s, I love classic cuts. I love denim, leather and cotton. A great pair of jeans, a few beautifully soft new or vintage tees. I have an amazing full length flared denim jumpsuit which was a Wrangler sample that never made it into production. I love a good knit and I always lean towards anything paisley or tartan. I work in an amazing vintage store 1 or 2 days a week called BoxVintage so I wear a lot of vintage.

What are the 5 things that inspire you most?
Nature, music, art, architecture and all of the wonderful people in my life

Sophia Coppola has long been one of our favourite filmmakers, being born to one of Hollywood’s most highly regarded directors Francis Ford Coppola, Sofia has gone on to write and direct beautifully cinematic films such as Lost in Translation, The Virgin Suicides, Marie Antoinette and upcoming film The Bling Ring. The filmmaker who also adds actress, model, designer and muse to her list of attractive credentials,  has taken her talent of creating beautiful imagery on film and has translated it into her own sartorial personal style.  We love Sofia’s classic and chic style, which is based upon a neutral colour palette in luxe fabrics such as silks, cottons and cashmere. Her style essentials include tailored suits, floral dresses, ballet flats and classic white shirts. Her easy and effortless style seems to favour tailored pieces and simple cuts, while she keeps the same amount of sophistication on set as she does at her movie premiers.

We can’t stop drooling over this  natural and ethereal shoot of sisters Inka and Neele Hoeper shot by Lina Scheynius for Zeit magazine…

Spring is just around the corner and we’re so excited to give you all a first look at the LILYA spring collection “ALOHA”. We had a blast shooting this latest collection at Tea Tree Bay in Noosa and have put together our favourite shots from the day as well as some behind the scenes snaps.

The Aloha collection is all about the anticipation of sun soaked days at the beach with a hint of retro surf.

A Big shout out to Model Hannah Saul, Photographer Sully LC, Hair and Make UP Pru Edwards, Jewellery by Holly Ryan, Thom from Tall Talk ( the most beautiful surf shack around) and our beautiful friends “the surfers” Penny Lane and Kate Armstrong.
x
The LILYA Spring Collection is launching early August 2013 along with a brand new website. Watch this space!

An abundance of fresh blooms, girlish wallpapers and an eclectic mix of artworks and personal polaroid’s covering the walls makes style writer and interior designer Rita Konig’s Manhattan home, the ultimate feminine abode. We love her mismatched quirkiness, which is unique to each nook and cranny of her home and we can’t get enough of those matching heart printed sheets and egg cup and saucer. The combination of high end home wares and vintage market finds with a colour palette of warming reds and pinks set off with fresh white and greens, keeps this place looking vibrant and inviting. The charming mix of down to earth homeliness and stylish chic make this every girls dream house.

We’ve been loving what our super creative friends at Sticks & Stones Agency have been up to lately, styling some Autumn/ Winter 2013 LILYA pieces in recent photo shoots. Check out some of our favourite looks from the shoots below.

TIE DYE MONGOLIAN LAMBS WOOL CREDITS
PHOTOGRAPHER | JANNEKE STORM
HAIR | BREANA SHANAHAN
MUA | KATE SHANAHAN
STYLING | STICKS AND STONES AGENCY

CREAM KNIT CREDITS
PHOTOGRAPHER | BETH LANE
HAIR | BREANA SHANAHAN
MUA | KATE SHANAHAN
STYLING | STICKS AND STONES AGENCY

We’re so excited to finally announce the official launch of our brand new LILYA website! This project has been evolving over the past 5 months and it’s such a relief to now be able to share it with you!

You can now also view the LILYA Spring 2013 ‘ALOHA’ collection & pre-order your favourite pieces to ensure you don’t miss out.

To celebrate the launch of our website & Spring collection, we’re giving away a $100 Gift Voucher to one lucky shopper over the next month. Come and visit our new online home at www.ilovelilya.com

*The winner of the $100 voucher will be announced September 11th. *The winner will be selected randomly from people who order or pre-order items on the LILYA website between August 14th & September 10th.

The sister duo ‘The Bloom Twins” have been on our radar ever since we were introduced to them by a mutual friend and music producer. The 17 year old Ukrainian twins are already making their mark on the music and modeling industry having recently signed with world renowned NEXT model management. Not only are these girls insanely beautiful but they are also talented musicians with a unique and alluring sound. We were lucky enough to be able to chat with the girls.

L: HEY GIRLS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CHATTING TO US! TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELVES AND HOW YOU ENTERED INTO THE MUSIC & MODELLING INDUSTRIES?

BT: Hello, we entered the music industry even before we were born. We always were surrounded by music. We started to sing in harmonies before we started to speak. The first instruments we decided to master were violin and flute, but it didn’t go well with violin and we redirected ourselves to learn piano. Our parents weren’t always happy about our big passion in music, cause we would try and play it every day, 24 hours a day. Thank God we didn’t want to play drums! Then, a year ago we met our managers through friends and decided to move to London. But we never expected to get into modelling.

L: WHATS CURRENTLY ON YOUR MUSIC PLAYLIST?

BT: Plastic jungle by Mike Snow, Lotus flower by Radiohead, Daydream in Blue by I monster, and Portishead.

L: WE LOVE YOUR SOUND, WHAT ARE YOUR MUSIC INSPIRATIONS?

BT: There are few incredible bands and singers who inspired us to create the music of our own. They’re Portishead, Muse, Lana Del Rey, Depeche Mode, Woodkid and the XX.

L: WE THINK ITS PRETTY COOL THAT YOU’RE TWINS – WHAT THE BEST PART OF BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH YOUR SISTER?

BT: We’ve got an amazing opportunity to do everything much quicker then everyone else. We are quite similar and while one does certain work (that both of us need to do), the other one will do something else, we utilise the time! And we love to perform together, cause we feel each other.

L: YOU’VE ALREADY BEEN FEATURED IN SOME OF THE TOP MAGAZINES – WHATS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE MODELLING EXPERIENCE SO FAR?

BT: Our favourite shoot was for Italian Vogue and it was a pleasure to work with such a good team.

L: WHAT WILL WE BE SEEING FROM ‘THE BLOOM TWINS” IN THE FUTURE?

BT: We want to write new songs, and to do more gigs and we certainly want to release our first EP.

The Bloom Twins on Faceboook, Instagram & Tumblr

Images via: visualoptimism.blogspot.com.au; vogue.co.uk, bloomtwins.com

To all of the amazing Dad’s out there… Wishing you a wonderful father’s day weekend. Hope you all get spoilt rotten.  xoxoxo (PS. We can’t say we didn’t thoroughly enjoy putting this blog post together…)

Welcome spring, we are so happy you are here!

(Images via Pinterest)

Anna Laub is no stranger to the fashion industry, modeling since the age of 13 she has gone on to become a coveted fashion journalist writing for publications such as The New York Times, Fashion Editor for WGSN and worked for fashion heavyweights such as Hussein Chalayan. The London beauty has since launched her eyewear label PRISM London in 2009, which has now branched into swimwear, footwear and handbags. Her brand ethos is based on “luxury products that are both functional and beautiful” which resonates with her personal style, as she combines simplicity and functionality while still being equally stylish. Her minimal and understated personal style includes essentials, such as a Celine leather T-shirt dress, Levi jeans, black zip up boots, Balenciaga necklaces and her favourite PRISM leopard espadrilles. Anna encapsulates classic minimalistic beauty at its very best.

Images: http://www.vogue.de; street peeper; elle.com; tumblr.com; http://www.trentmcminn.com

Beautiful Hannah Saul is our featured model for the current ALOHA Spring 2013 Collection. We chose Hannah not only for her amazing beauty, but also because she encompasses the natural and healthy beach lifestyle we live and breathe here at LILYA. We’re super excited about Hannah’s inspiring new venture www.mindbodyandsaul.com which is launching soon so we caught up with her to chat about her exciting career, what’s ahead and her passion for health and wellbeing…

HEY HANNAH! WE LOVED HAVING YOU AS PART OF THE LILYA SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTION – TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW YOU STARTED MODELLING?
Hello! Oh thank you so much, it was such an honour being apart of the Lilya team and shooting this beautiful collection! I grew up in a small town on northern NSW called Lennox Head; I started out modelling when I was 18 after I had moved to the gold coast. My Brisbane agency Dally’s models entered me into the NRA NEXT NY model search and I was lucky enough to win it and go on to sign with Chic Management in Sydney. I moved to Sydney when I was 19 to pursue modelling full time and have been in the industry ever since!

WHATS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE MODELLING MOMENT SO FAR?
My favourite modelling moment so far would have to be working with supermodels such as Miranda Kerr, Nicole Trunfio, Jennifer Hawkins, Megan Gale etc. Sharing the runway with these women or being on a photo shoot with them to watch them work is another level. Being featured in magazines or campaign’s is also really huge as it’s not everyday you see your face on a bus or in a 5 page spread in your favourite magazines! It can still be quite surreal seeing yourself in print.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PIECES FROM THE LILYA SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTION?
My favourite pieces from the Spring Summer collection would have to be the Talei pant, the sunset knit, the salvia bikini hydrangea, allamanda singlet dress and the aloha singlet!

MODELLING CALLS FOR A LOT OF TRAVEL AND LONG HOURS – WHAT DO YOU DO TO UNWIND?
My favourite thing to unwind from the constant travel and stress of long hours is to enjoy the beautiful beaches and coastal walks Sydney has to offer, I love being outdoors in the sunshine and keeping active. I love going out to dinner with friends and enjoying a wine down at the bucket list over looking Bondi Beach.

WHAT ARE YOUR SUMMER ESSENTIALS?
My summer essentials are H2Coco coconut water, Paw Paw, coconut tanning oil, a great collection of bikinis & a camera! WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE SUMMER HOLIDAY DESTINATION? My favourite holiday destination would be Hawaii! Lots of water activities, shopping, restaurants, hikes and the locals are so friendly!

WE KNOW YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR HEALTH & WELLBEING – WHATS YOUR GO TO SUMMER SNACK AND SUMMER FITNESS REGIME?
My summer fitness regime consists of lots of cardio! walking, running, step class, body attack and then I mix it up with resistance and weight training and Pilates. My ultimate summer snack is an Acai bowl topped with muesli and fresh fruit! I also love making berry banana pancakes, which my friend gave me the recipe for! They are so delicious!

BERRY BANANA PANCAKES
Prep time – 5 mins
Cooking time – 5 -10 mins

WHAT YOU NEED
1/2 a cup of organic oats
1 fresh banana
1/2 cup chia seeds
1tsp cinnamon
1 whole organic free range egg
1 & 1/2 cups of almond milk
1 tsp of Acai berry powder (You don’t need this to make the pancakes, however I like to use it)

LETS START COOKING
Firstly, put all of your ingredients into a blender/food processor (you can also use just the egg whites of the eggs if you want, it tastes just as great!), then get your 1/2 tsp of Coconut Essence coconut oil & heat it in a non-stick frying pan – make sure the heat is medium/low so you don’t burn the oil or your pancakes! Pour in the blended ingredients into the pan & cook for 2-3 minutes per side. Once cooked, top with fresh berries in between your stack of pancakes & drizzle a little agave nectar over the top.

MODELLING CAN HAVE AN UNHEALTHY STIGMA ATTACHED TO IT, BUT WE NOTICE THAT YOU PRIDE YOURSELF ON BEING A ROLE MODEL TO MANY YOUNG WOMAN AND AMBASSADOR FOR PROMOTING A HEALTHY ACTIVE LIFESTYLE. WHAT ARE YOU’RE 5 TOP TIPS FOR STAYING HAPPY & HEALTHY? Yes the modelling industry seems to have this general idea that all models starve themselves or are unhealthily thin and doing it all the wrong ways. I have always been an extremely active person and I want to prove to young girls that you can be a ‘sample size’ model by doing it the right way. So many people look up to models and idolise them so you have to be 100% aware of the image you are putting out into the world. We are lucky in Australia they do support the healthy look for girls and try to steer clear from the ‘Paris’ thin models! My top tips for staying healthy and happy is everything in moderation; I love to live by the 80/20% rule. Do something active everyday, surround yourself with people who are like-minded to yourself and who are positive, focus on the beautiful world we live in and appreciate your life!

Images via LILYA, fashionmodeldirectory.com, tapiture.com, Hannah Saul, Facebook, & www.sullivanlc.com

New York Fashion Week has just wrapped up a week full of seriously amazing runway fashion. A big standout show for us at Lilya was the incredible sport luxe feel at Lacoste, from its relaxed tonal dressing to matching sport inspired two pieces. J-Crew showed us how to mix grown up femininity and casual sport aesthetics for the perfect summer holiday combination. Always a favourite, Micheal Kors kept it sexy and chic, with ladylike inspired shapes in pretty florals and resort inspired palm prints. Joie presented a flawless collection of casual chic everyday pieces while Naeem Khan showed a collection full of perfect lace dresses. Rachel Zoe and The Row, never cease to amaze, showing strong collections, both presenting some of our favourite pieces of the season so far and of course, we can never go past Mara Hoffman for Summer, with her lust worthy prints and flowy shapes.

Images: www.nymag.com & www.style.com

With our Summer collection launch just around the corner, we would love to share with you some of our favourite shots. It was a less than perfect day but despite the wind and clouds, our team did an amazing job putting our shoot together. We were aiming for a softer, more moody feel than our Spring collection, with muted colours and a washed out vibe. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. All the pieces are available on our website for pre-order now and will be hitting store mid-October.

CREDITS Photographer – Madelyn Rose Photography Model – Jana Kruger Hair – Deanne Evans Makeup – Jess Connelly

We cannot get enough of this incredible editorial ‘Hamptons’ by Josh Olins for Vogue Paris. German model Anna Luisa Ewers, looks insanely beautiful in the black and white spread. The shoot has an androgynous feel with a focus on man-style dressing. What we love most in this shoot is its mixture of textures and nature inspired backgrounds of greenery and wood, adding depth and richness while still encapsulating a minimalist aesthetic.

Hamptons Vogue Paris October 2013 Photographer: Josh Olins Styling: Géraldine Saglio Hair: Shon Makeup: Sally Branka Model: Anna Luisa Ewers Credit: Fashion Copious www.fashioncopious.typepad.com

As Spring / Summer 2014 fashion weeks come to an end, it was not only the runway fashion which we were lusting over but the incredible street style fashion seen outside of the shows. Above are some of the LILYA teams favourite looks.

Images: Vogue.com, harpersbazaar, elle uk, tommy ton, we the people style, Stockholm Streetstyle

We are excited to show you tour latest Lilya Summer photoshoot, shot by the talented Kate Friend in Bali. We are big fans of Kate’s work, a London based photographer who has been published in Vogue.it, Lula Magazine and the Wall St Journal and also being the director and founder of MOTHER Magazine. We wanted the shoot to have a muted, balmy feel making us want to head off on a tropical getaway. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

CREDIT: Kate Friend www.katefriend.com ; H and M/STYLING : Maikhanh; Model: ANYA (So Wanted Agency)

Natalie Joos is like a breath of fresh air with her quirky, trend defying style making her a street style dream and the ultimate fashion muse. What we love about this former model come casting director, stylist and writer of the blog Tales of Endearment is her ability to perfectly co-ordinate a clash of print, texture and colour. The New York based Belgian-born beauty keeps her personal style fun and captivating with an enviable closest of vintage pieces infused with innovative emerging design.

Images:  Tales of Endearment, Pinterest & We the people Style