Sass & Bide

Some of the world's most successful fashion and business entreprenours have descended upon Sydney. Lured not by the sparkling harbour nor the promise of cuddling a koala — these industry leaders will be sharpening their understanding of the key trends, innovations and collaborations in the world of luxury fashion at today's Bespoke summit, presented by the Australian Financial Review. Representatives from Mr Porter, J Brand and Saturdays Surf NYC will be speaking alongside a stellar line-up of local success stories; including Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton from sass & bide, Ana Maria Escobar from Oroton, Karen Walker from (funnily enough) Karen Walker and Nicky Zimmermann from Zimmermann. 

In an effort to supply our stylish international guests with a concise must-do list, we picked the brains of these homegrown heroes; asking for their favourite places to eat, shop, drink and dance in Sydney. Step inside to get a true fashion insider's guide to Sydney. 

Hosted at the Sydney Opera House, Bespoke will run from 10am until 6.30pm on Thursday the 16th of May. Tickets cost $795, and can be bought here. 

The sass & bide girls got famous off the back (or should we say the butt) of their denim — remember their infamous two-inch zip hipster jeans? Yup. Circa 2002 we owned at least three *cough, five* pairs. So who better to teach us in the mystic arts of finding the perfect pair of jeans than Sarah-Jane Clarke herself? SJC is one half of the S&B brand, and certainly knows her stuff. We quizzed her on everything from denim care tips, to this season's must-have pair. . .  styling ideas to her personal faves. Keen to learn from the master? Denim 101 awaits. . .  

Carrying through with our focus on Wool this week, I asked the editorial team to share what woven wonders they'll be adding to cart in preparation for the cooler months. Knits needn't be confined to the classic pullover (although there's plenty of those inside, too). Bow-topped beanies, fingerless gloves and luxe cashmere scarves make the cosiest of Winter wardrobe essentials. Step inside to see what the editors are investing in this season. . . 

Can you believe it's May, already? The last month of Autumn means we're well and truly looking down the barrel of a dip in the temperature, so the following Must-Haves edit has been put together with the coming coolth in mind. Statement seasonal updates with trans-seasonal appeal will ensure the following ten picks are kept on high rotation well beyond the month of May. From an exclusive piece of Proenza Schouler's latest collaboration, to the perfect ankle boots, to a wallet-friendly take on this season's ubiquitous ankle-strap pump — it's all waiting for you. Ready, Eddy? 

This week's denim special woudn't be complete without a keen edit of this season's strongest denim trends, now would it? If you're after a new pair of jeans that have a point of difference, consider the following your essential online shopping guide. From the new super-distressed baggies, to sexy high-shine finishes, to the only colour you should be investing in for Autumn/Winter '13 — it's all here in one easy to click place. Put your feet up and let your fingers do the walking... or clicking. Your new denim wardrobe starts here. 

We may have missed the first, but we're still keen to celebrate a new month with a fresh batch of must-haves. April marks not only the mid-point for Autumn, but also the commencement of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia in Sydney, so we're using today's shopping gallery as an excuse to add-to-cart some new season extras that will both instantly update our existing wardrobes and get us through a week of runway shows. From the suddenly fresh appeal of a pair of faded boyfriend jeans to a high-fashion clutch bag by designer on the rise Sophie Hulme, we've found the top ten items to buy now. Like, right now.

Sydney's most stylish folk frocked up last night to celebrate the best in fashion and beauty at the 2013 Prix de Marie Claire Awards. The black tie gala, hosted by editor Jackie Frank at The Star casino, was full of drama — and not just thanks to the formal dress code. A spectacular perspex runway was suspended high above guests' heads, allowing for a unique viewpoint. International designers were popular with the A-list crowd with Lara Bingle looking chic in Christian Dior, Jodi Gordon donning a fabulously frilled Gucci number and Megan Gale baring a little flesh in black Bottega Veneta. Thigh high splits were a popular choice with designers Sarah Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton of sass & bide, Terry Biviano and Samantha Wills all showing a little leg — and special mention goes to Kylie Gillies who showed off her spectacular legs thanks to an unexpected gust of wind.

On the fashion-front, the magazine awarded Best Australian Designer to wonderkid Dion Lee, Best Australian Evening Wear Designer went to Collette Dinnigan, Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson were honoured with a Special Achievement Award, Zimmermann scooped the Best Swimwear title, newbie Christopher Esber took home the Best New Designer gong, Rachael Ruddick received the Best Australian Accessory Brand Award, the Best Australian Fashion Brand went to Oroton and sass & bide got a special mention by taking home the award for Fashion With Heart. Readers got their say too, nominating Cue and Samantha Wills for Best Australian Fashion Brand and Best Australian Accessory Brand respectively. Step this way to see the stylish people at play . . .