After nearly 27 years on this earth I have decided what my two most favourite things on the Planet are. The winners are... FLOWERS and FIREWORKS! Nothing makes this gal happier. Not even gin and gentlemen. So I was naturally tickled pink when we started receiving Florals but this time for the fellas! For the ladies we have loud bursts of metallics, colour and sequins.

"People are very insecure as far as fashion is concerned. It's just something they do to look good and not be criticized, so a quick answer for them is to buy for the brand. I am my own brand." Mr. Shail Upadhya. (Pictured below)

Shail Upadhya is of one the snappiest and dandiest dressed men on gods green earth.  He works all day as a UN Ambassador in a pretty serious job. However, he doesn't let that stop him from having a seriously pretty wardrobe that is not only loud but tasteful and refreshing. The above quote demonstrates that he is right on the money and unfortunately I think many folk in this town  fall in to that hole of insecurity and are missing out. So when we in the shop tell you to live a little we mean it. The guys and the gals all too often look the same so if you want to look good and get noticed why don't you try looking different? Who wants to buy a bag of skittles that are only one flavour? TASTE THE RAINBOW EVERYBODY!

Try not to limit your wardrobe by thinking florals are exclusively for the ladies. Instead picture classic coastal and Hawaiian Patriarchs such as The Beach Boys, Elvis and Gidget's Beau Kahuna.

I know that floral for spring isn't exactly groundbreaking but it works and that's why it keeps coming back. Whether it be classic Ralph Lauren or these florals which dominated the Spring 2011 Men's collections of D&G and the far-too-talented-for-his-own-good Tom Ford.

 Above, Tom Ford Spring 2011. Below Dolce & Gabbana's Spring 2011.

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

If we could we would adorn the folks at Insight with the most fragrant leis around for injecting their summer styles with a healthy bloom of hibiscus and giving us a tropical contact high.

So forget what you thought you knew about floral and be one bad ass KOKO-MOFO!

Now for a subject that gets me quite heated and ready to explode like you guessed it A FIREWORK.

Even having burning hot shells fall in to my eyes as a child at EXPO in Brisbane did not deter my love for these flaming sparks of whimsy and surprise. One of the most compromising positions I have been in lately (and I get in a lot of them) was when I was working here at the counter and I could hear and feel but not see fireworks. They just make me feel good and sometimes you need that feeling of euphoria albeit brief.

There is a way to carry this euphoria with you all season long. You can bedazzle your fine self with sequins or metallic detailing making you look like a pyrotechnic princess. For the record it is SEQUINS not SEQUENCES and it is SEQUINNED not SEQUENCED. (lots of people get this wrong and its usually the people who like to say it a lot). Marc Jacobs and Miu Miu have been busting out metallic floral cut outs that have been reappropriated by Romance Was Born.

(Pictured below, Rachel Bilson wearing a gorgeous gold floral skirt by Marc Jacobs on the cover of Nylon)

 There is one gal however who does it better than the both of them put together. That is the one and only Jaime Lee yes that's right Perth's Own Jaime Lee Major.

You may have seen her elaborate hand constructed and sequinned gowns adorned by Kimbra at this years ARIA Awards. If you did you can totally see why she was voted Best Dressed by everyone from TheVine to Harpers Bazaar. (Pictured Below)

We have been big fans of Jaime for a while now so we are ecstatic to see her work being recognised.

She has been recognised by aussie designer Alice McCall who has snapped her up to be the designer for her label Fairground (available at Planet Clothing). Jaime has brought her love of colours and sequins to Fairground along with her love of the female silhouette. Her designs have been flying off the shelves here and it is easy to see why. THEY ARE FUN. Like Jaime says "Girls have needs!" and one need is to have amazing party dresses so your festive season can last all year round.

Below, Fairground Cut Out Frock $159.00, Roses Crop Top $59.00 and Roses Tube Skirt $79. Now available at Planet Clothing. Other brands to jump on board the fireworks barge include Nookie, One Teaspoon and Minty Meets Munt.

Above, Nookie Ever After Singlet in Blush $180.00. Below, Minty Meets Munt Shine On Leggings $159.95.

Below, One Teaspoon Gold Rush Dress in Shell $300.

The other great thing about embellished clothing is when the festive season hits overdrive often the accessorising is done for you. You shouldn't be afraid to mix sequins or metallics at all there is no such thing as too much there is only not enough!

One of Australia's most popular fashion bloggers Mandy Shadforth, better known as oracle fox has put her artistic skills to good use with a collaboration with Australian Label Somedays lovin. She's so rad! If you aren't familiar with her style go check out her blog. But for all you lazy gals (and guys? Who's reading this blog??) out there I shall sum it up for you. It's rad! Haha can you tell I'm also one of the lazy ones? Okay, no I will write more, its worth putting down; she has the style mindset of one of the carelessly cool fashion golden girls like Kate Moss or Erin Wasson, wears clothes that are slightly bohemian and full of colour, print and can be slightly kooky but always stylish YES SHE IS RIGHT ON TREND. But I primarily adore her blog because of her taste in Jewelry. It is flawlessly amazing. Kinda wanted to use a different 'f' word in front of that amazing but I am trying to tone down my use of profanity at work. She always has the heads up on new exciting labels and collections that have something a bit different to offer and the pieces are epic. Hand eclipsing rings. *Awesome* That was a total jewelry deviation that has nothing to do with this post. Beyond being incredibly stylish she is also an artist in her own right and her paintings are a perfect amalgamation of her interests in fashion, mythology, nature, beauty and pop culture. She has done designs for two tops for Somedays Lovin. We stock both at Planet Clothing.

Mandy Shadforth

Yes.

Lion of the Sun 2010 Mandy Shadforth

Golden prophecy 2 2010 Mandy Shadforth

Foxbox Tee $35

Oracle owl top $30

There are better ways to show your patriotism than getting a Southern Cross Tattoo. You can love a sun burnt country without having Australia on Blu-Ray.  

One such way to show your love of this country is to support Australian Brands that are not only designed in Australia but made here too.

Here at Planet Clothing  we are always elated to stock clothing that is made in Australia. The benefits of buying Australian made are abundant and when you think about it buying locally will make you a better person and reduce the chances of you being hit by a bus. (This we can not guarantee as karmic retribution is beyond our control)

When you buy Australian made you can be sure that you are doing the following:

• Sustaining the Australian Fashion Industry and by doing so securing jobs for those creative types whose parents lose sleep over what their child is doing with his/her life.
• Buying designs that suit your lifestyle by people who understand our climate. For instance we love beautiful Merino Wool but know that during a Perth Summer it probably isn't the best choice of material.
• Speaking of climate, by choosing Australian Made you are reducing your carbon footprint by reducing the distance your garment has traveled to get to you. The shorter the distance the less emissions are used transporting the stock to you.
•  You are showing the world that Australian Fashion has evolved since Koala Blue and Lizzy Gardiner (below)

 Now I hear you ask," These are all good points crazy planet girl but I'm just one person how can I make a difference? Also, leave Lizzy Gardiner alone hasn't she suffered enough being married to Baz Luhrmann?"

Allow me to address the latter first. As much as I despise Baz being married to that hack must have its upsides. He is vertically challenged and she probably doesn't have to wear heels that often. Apart from having her height over him she also has an Oscar and he doesn't that must kill him.

Now this is how you can make a difference while looking fierce at the same time. Come in to Planet Clothing stat and check out the new range of Secret Squirrel our most coveted Aussie Made, Designed and Loved label. Based in Sydney Secret Squirrel construct beautifully made designs predominantly using beautiful silks. Best yet they really know how to cut a dress! (and a blouse, shorts and skirt for that matter). Here is just a taste of their Summer 2011 Botanica collection now available to you.  They feel as beautiful as they look and will make you feel like you are not just Oscar worthy but E.G.O.T worthy.

Foxglove Dress $460.00

Hollyhock Tie Top $190.00 and Foxtail Skirt $340.00 (both also available in Black)

Hellebore Shirt $240.00 and Camelia Skirt $290.00 (skirt available in Black. This is Planet Clothing after all)

Gardenia Digital Dress $360.00

Hey, hey, hey! Settle down I know at first the price may seem a little steep but think of what I talked about earlier (not my disdain for Baz Luhrmann) think about what supporting the Australian Fashion Industry does for the country. If that is not reason enough and you are extremely egocentric allow me to appeal to your vanity and tell you how these designs will transform any Sir Les in to a  Dame Edna. Unlike Edna's make up these pieces will last a lot longer and will be an investment you won't regret unlike this guy.

Its not easy being a garment. All too often I get passed up and over because even the sturdiest coat hanger doesn't do me justice. If only browsers had the imagination to see my potential. Sure, I can go on a mannequin. But when you are a kimono sometimes even a mannequin won't let me express my sleeves. While I appreciate the girls at Planet trying to convey my wonder to customers they can unintentionally come off as being pushy shop girls. Bless them, they just want me to find a good home. Those girls understand me.

Recently a few of my closest clothes and I were selected by the wonderful gals at All Of The Above Creative to go on an excursion to the beach where we could really shine! This was an amazing experience because many of us had never seen the ocean before despite being natives to Indonesia and having lived in Perth since we came out of our box. It was the best day of my life! We got to meet some great folk who really 'got' us. The gals took really good care of us and made us feel beautiful again and restored our confidence. They really put the creative in All Of The Above Creative. They understood our hardships and what we have been through. These ladies have experienced first hand the burn of a clothing steamer and what its like to have someone smear their make up all over you. They even brought along a babin' model to wear us in ways no mannequin ever could!

So big thanks to the folks from All Of The Above Creative here are just a few of the rad shots they got of me and my pals. If you are interested in adopting us we are still available from Planet Clothing so come check us out and give us a good home!

Photographed by Caitlin Worthington for All of the Above Creative
Styled by Emma Bergmeier for All of the Above Creative
Beauty by Rebecca Joanne for All of the Above Creative
Model is Amy for Scene Model Management

Working at Planet we hear a lot of peoples opinions on music. The worst yet most entertaining part of overhearing these opinions is when you can tell a couple are on date number two and getting to know each others taste in music. This is important as should things work out you are going to have to listen to what he considers to be a 'Solid, solid, solid album' on several trips to Ikea. It is pretty vital to get this topic out in the open early on. Otherwise those trips to Ikea listening to shitty bootlegs of Foals and Modest Mouse will go on forever. (You have to really need that DIY gingerbread house to put up with that broken washing machine sounding crap)

My aunty once told me, "Opinions  are like arseholes, everybody has one. Doesn't mean you have to share it". I never took this advice to heart. I think it is better to get these things out in the open when necessary. Opinions that is. (I guess it goes for arseholes too!)

How much easier would the 2^nd date be if you could just wear a T-shirt adorned with your favorite musician. Then if it all goes well on date number three you speak only in quotes from your favorite film. It would be a pretty straight forward compatibility test. So if one of you shows up in a dime a dozen Smiths Meat is Murder tee you know it isn't no big thing but could be a fun little fling and you could get some hilarious poems written for you that you could read to all your friends. If you both show up at Formosa wearing the aforementioned shirt you know IT IS MEANT TO BE and you both write awful poetry but because you live inside each others pockets nobody can tell you how disgustingly contrived and self indulgent it is.

Ignorance is bliss.

So who wants to present themselves as a dime a dozen loser breath wearing a mass produced unlicensed band tee? Not you.

That's why Planet Clothing are proud to stock the incredible range of House Of The Gods Tees designed by the folks at Buddhist Punk.

House of the Gods continues the great tradition of band tees which embody the spirit of our favourite music icons. Unlike unlicensed copies in the market, House of the Gods officially collaborates with The Rolling Stones, Blondie, Pink Floyd, Madonna,  The Sex Pistols and many more artists bringing you original and authentic 100% rock attire. Available in both guys and gals styles it would be a match made in heaven. Imagine turning up for your second date wearing your incredible House Of The Gods Madonna  Immaculate collection Tee with beaded eyelash embellishments and he vogues on in wearing his House Of The Gods Madonna Celebration tee.

 You could bond over how Madonna introduced you to the world of false eyelashes and that the film Truth or Dare (the original U.S title of In Bed With Madonna) taught you how to give head. Then after one too many espresso martinis you could go home and make sweet, clumsy love to the Erotica album. The album your exes would never let you play when you were getting down to business. It would be the most wonderful 17 months of your life until he and his best friend go on a trip to Thailand and some pretty incriminating check ins come upon your Facebook and you can no longer ignore your suspicions.

You are pretty pissed and all that money you had been saving for a couples trip to San Fran is burning a hole in your pocket. So you stroll in to Planet Clothing after a few too many beers and grab a new House Of The Gods Debbie Harry tee and to buy the anniversary edition of Cabaret on DVD.

While looking at other musicals on DVD you spy a cool tall glass of water trying on a House Of The Gods tee with Nevermind The Bollocks on it. In your delicate yet empowered state you realise you are only on this earth for a good time not a long time and think he could be the Sid to your Nancy. You follow him to the bookshop (where all the best romances blossom) and you strike up a conversation about how Malcolm McLaren was a bit of a jerk ball. After two months you move in together and fly to New York with his band and get a room at the Chelsea Hotel. The rest is history.

Images of House Of The Gods tees coming soon. In the mean time come and check them out in store NOW before they sell out.

Those of you acquainted with the world of blogging would probably know of Australian label Stylestalker which is a favourite on fashion blogs that garner a lot of attention. (fashiontoast, oraclefox, christeric, oh I could go on). That speaks volumes about the brand in itself. It's right on trend. All the time, every season, they hit the nail on the monstrous fashion head. So not so much of a stalker as a setter if you ask me. They don't really need us Planet girls' blogging about how rad they are... But I thought I would blab a bit about them before announcing that their Young Hollywood collection has just been dropped. In store now.

In their words, the story for this collection goes like this...

It's midnight in the City of Angels and while decent citizens sleep the sleep of the righteous, Hollywood lounges are heaving with hard liquor and the thick smoke of cigars. Outside, street posts cast shadows across the eroded pavement, rain drips from men's trench coats, and the femme fatale lures us into her world of crime and seduction. Appearance is everything. Beauty is a curse. Where decadence is juxtaposed with decay... things are not what they seem.

Some of our favourites include: 

Roosevelt dress $129

Olsen dress $138.99

Heartthrob shirt $149

Viper room Bustier $129

Being a woman we tend to believe that things that come but once a month are not usually the most enjoyable experiences. AM I RIGHT LADIES?

One monthly happening however is very enjoyable. For over a year now The Collectomaniacs have presented the We Heart Vintage Monthly Market o'er the road at The Velvet Lounge on the first Saturday of every month.

But who has the time to rummage through all the racks and navigate fellow treasure hunters when you are probably as hung over as a Planet Staff member on a Thursday?

If you are one such treasure hunter whose love of finding incredible one off vintage rarities is matched only by their love of a big night out chances are you find yourself sore and hungry on these Saturdays.

With your convenience in mind Planet Clothing has combined with the ladies of We Heart Vintage to bring you their worldly delights right around the clock. Each month we have the pleasure of selecting pieces from their wide range or wares that hark back to the 1950's right up to the 90's. We will bring you a selection of accessories, jewellery, clothes and general objects of fancy from times gone by.

Plus if you guys express an interest in certain styles or pieces the Collectomaniacs are happy to hunt down such pieces so we can bring them to us next time.

We are pretty darn tickled to have access to such a wonderful resource as we know how many of you love to mix oldie but goodies with your other planet finds. Plus it also means that we can have a burst of colours and textures that is independent to that of our current labels. So even if the current trend aint your friend you will always be in good company at Planet Clothing.

We Heart Vintage 80s pure wool cardi $75

We heart Vintage stone studded belt $75

We heart Vintage 70s vintage safari dress $69

Taking cues from Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen and Giles in their Fall 2011 collections we're seeing sex in the details; corset laced heels and bondage inspired belts and harnesses. So here we bring to you winters must have accessory (the affordable version)- Evil Twins corset belt. In store now.

 Evil Twin Corset Belt $100

Alexander McQueen Fall 2011

Alexander McQueen Fall 2011

Alexander McQueen Fall 2011 

Louis Vuitton Fall 2011 

Louis Vuitton Fall 2011

Louis Vuitton Fall 2011

Giles Fall 2011

Giles Fall 2011

Vogue Russia April 2011

Vogue Russia April 2011

Vogue Russia April 2011

Vogue Russia April 2011

Or maybe I was one in a past life. I don't know I just think that they're really rad and make me happier than chocolate. All the girls on this counter back me up on that.* So we send out a big thanks to Friends of Couture for creating the unicorn jumper of our magical dreams. And the awesome pied piper top which has not only got unicorns frolicking in the woods but also a wolf chilling in another part of the woods and little red riding hood about to enter the house of her death. And little birdies flying about. They've made everyone at Planet Clothing happy minus the calories. *Except Alana. Who doesn't care for unicorns.

Friends of Couture I heart unicorns Jumper $89.99

Friends of Couture Pied Piper Top $59.99

We have all done things we are not proud of. Especially those of us who work in retail. Sometimes having to sell products we wouldn't buy ourselves. Now before this becomes some Today Tonight expose we want you to know that this is not the case at Planet Clothing. With most of our staff being retail asylum seekers who have found refuge here to begin a new life selling products we love.

(Oooh CONTROVERSIAL!)

With a new life comes new opportunities. One such opportunity is to be able to sell a brand that you are ridiculously confident in. A brand that would catch you in a trust exercise. A brand that lives the Australian dream.

A brand that embodies all these qualities is Melbourne made, designed and owned Extinct!

Extinct know what they are doing especially when it comes to cut and material. Sourcing the best of what this land has to offer using quality Australian merino wool, high quality denim and reviving materials such as modal; a super fine wood pulp derived fabric that won't stretch or fade and dries right before your eyes.

It is all in the detail with Extinct especially the denim. It is fair to say that only 1% of the population actually enjoy shopping for jeans. It can be a pretty unforgiving task. Then there is the doubt, what if they stretch? What if the high-waisted ones give me Eggplant Butt? How long till they split? Here is the deal with Extinct their denim is 1% elastane so this means they only stretch 1% so how they fit when you try them on is how they will fit in a week, a month or longer. Their pocket detail differs from style to style to give your rump the most pert and flattering appearance. Also for all you fixie you-know-whats you don't have to worry about your inseam splitting after a few rides from The Bird to The Scotsman. All Extinct jeans feature a reinforced doubled seam on the outside and a single inseam so that the pressure in your pants is distributed evenly resulting in a longer lasting product.

So if you come in and think we are putting the hard sell on you when it comes to this brand know that we are looking out for you and just love to see an Aussie made success story. Sure, it may not be the Hills Hoist but we would gladly adorn our clothesline with Extinct. Whether your priority is looking good, reducing your carbon footprint or getting your moneys worth give Extinct a try and support an Aussie brand and help protect an endangered species.

Words By Alana Scherr