Camilla Freeman-Topper

Surviving ten years in the local rag trade is no mean feat, as Camilla Freeman Topper and Marc Freeman well know, so today's first fashion week runway show at was something of a celebration for the home-grown label. As Camilla told us last week, their '13-'14 collection calls on the past as much as looks to the future; paying tribute both to their archival collections and to the Freeman family's stylish lineage — naming their mother and grandmother as joint muses. There were plenty of signature Camilla and Marc pieces on the runway; statement-making blazers, palazzo pants and asymmetrial party dresses are sure to keep loyal customers coming back, but the line's newly refined aesthetic will snare a fresh client base too. It was gown up, it was cohesive, it was true the brand's roots yet similarly fresh and new. Camilla and Marc just keep getting better with age. 

• Colours: Black, white, red, royal blue, orange and gold. 
• Trends: Tailoring, racer-necklines, gold brocade, netting, satin, front-split skirts, leather and crop tops.
• Key Looks: Sharply-cut trouser suits in white and black, figure-flattering party dresses spliced with netting trim, a brilliantly boxy white leather bomber jacket and languid drop-crotch trousers in leopad print satin. 
• Accessories: Wide belts with solid-metal fasteners worn on the waist or hipbone, ankle-strap platform pumps, Ryan Storer ear-cuffs and interesting neck and wrist pieces by Estelle Deve. 

Camilla and Marc have the honour of opening the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia schedule this year, celebrating their tenth year in the industry with what is set to be a big runway production. The brother-sister duo are using their shared history as the source of their inspiration with year, with their mother and grandmother acting joint muses for the nostalgic collection, paying ode to their archival collections in the process. In between castings and final fittings, Camilla Freeman-Topper was kind enough to fill in our designer questionnaire. Take a peek! 

Candice Lake stands like a tall, blonde ray of Australian sunshine amongst the blogger-cum-snapper pack outside the tents of international fashion week; her elegant yet off-beat sense of style just as captivating as her inspiring street style photography. So it makes perfect sense that Westfield has employed Ms Lake's killer eye to snap their latest campaign for the Autumn/Winter '13 season. After capturing local style identities including Camilla Freeman-Topper, stylist Pip Edwards and actress Isabelle Cornish in their natural Sydney habitats we quizzed the industry insider on everything from her blogger besties to the local buys that earn her compliments from fashion's most discerning front row regulars. 

You are both the subject of, and photographer behind some beautiful street style shots — what do you prefer being; model or snapper? I think this is an exciting time to be a creative person. I love the fact that one day I can be staring in a film, like Fashion Lust or modelling for a fashion shoot; and the next I am behind the camera shooting a campaign for Westfield.

The international A/W '13 fashion week has been and gone; which is your favourite city to shoot in? I live in London and I LOVE shooting there. London girls have an incredible gift for dressing with current trends in mind in a wholly unique way. Although having said that, Paris Fashion Week is pretty spectacular, it is like going to the fashion Oscars as the girls are often dressed in couture!

Those CAMILLA AND MARC kids are mighty clever. The Spring/Summer debut of their diffusion label C&M CAMILLA AND MARC was (unsurprisingly) a runaway success, so Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman have come back for a second season — fulfilling our Autumn/Winter fantasies with a collection that draws from collegiate sorority sisters, off-duty model types and front-row editrix fixtures. Luxuriously oversized leather pants mix it with varsity jackets, heart-print denim make a sweet match for jewel-adorned grey marle sweats and classic khaki separates are perfectly pitched against chambray two-piece suits. In short, it's all the lust-inducing pieces that the mainline does so well — but with a smaller price tag. We likey. The collection drops in-stores, online and in David Jones store nationally this week. We suggest you take advantage of this VIP preview before things start selling out (again). 

Well, one thing's for sure: Summer is well and truly upon us. And it isn't the heat making sure we don't forget it — it's the slew of stars showing off their beautiful bikini (and one-piece!) bodies as they hit the beach in various parts of the world. Lara Bingle had us feeling totally envious as she shared lovely snaps of her holiday to Mexico, while stylists Romy Frydman and Christine Centenera were dipping their fashionable toes into the crystal clear waters of Hamilton Island. It wasn't all about tropical paradise this week, though — Miranda Kerr was looking every inch the glam supermodel in a bright red ballerina-esque confection, while model of the moment Cara Delevingne hung out with friends Rita Ora and Jourdan Dunn, and Phoebe Tonkin celebrated her debut as the face of an iconic jewellery brand. There are many more beautiful, candid snaps to be seen — click through the gallery to check them all out! 

It's no surprise that when you combine local creative gold like stylist Michelle Jank, photographer Bec Parsons, the killer cheekbones of Nicole Pollard with local design duo Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman you get something as elegantly executed as camilla and marc's Resort '12 look book. The model smoulders into the camera — playing sophisticated hostage inside the gilded interior of her private Sydney residence, perfectly accessorised with oversized cocktail earrings and a collection of chokers that would make Christine Centenera go green. And clothes? As understated as they are cool thanks to clever cuts, unexpected fabrications (shantung anyone?), wide-spaced stripes and distinctive photographic jewellery prints.  Take a closer look at 'The Radicals', in-store now . . .

Sydney's CBD turned into a shopaholic's dream last night, with a huge turnout for the second annual Vogue Fashion's Night Out. Editor-in-Chief Kirstie Clements along with official ambassador Jessica Gomes opened the event, which offered shoppers exclusive in-store discounts and styling sessions plus an endless supply of canapés, cupcakes and cocktails. Check out Sydney's fashionable crowd on the red carpet including guest DJ Ruby Rose, Laura Dundovic, Camilla Freeman-Topper and more!

One half of directional design duo Camilla and Marc, Camilla Freeman-Topper is joining Lara Bingle, Kate Waterhouse and Amanda Ware in sharing the contents of her makeup bag with us. And with her designs appearing on a host of Hollywood's A-listers such as Drew Barrymore, Ginnfier Goodwin, Lauren Conrad, Whitney Port and even lil' Kylie Jenner, Camilla's a woman renowned for her impeccable taste. The accomplished designer and mum-of-one swears by her Cloud Nine hair straightener to tend to her tresses and is big on keeping her skin moisturised. Find out the five beauty products she swears by, including her top trick for instant radiance, now.

It seems like we say this a lot, but yesterday’s schedule at RAFW featured some of the most anticipated shows, like Dion Lee, Ellery and Josh Goot. Unsurprisingly, the celebrity turnouts at these shows gave us almost as much to ogle, with Lara Bingle switching from a black tuxedo to sexy bodycon dress between shows and BFF Teresa Palmer donning a metallic number. Jennifer Hawkins was the star attraction at Ellery but over at Josh Goot the celebrities stayed off the catwalk, with Sophie Lowe, Ruby Rose, Kyly Boldy, Michael Clarke and Susie Bubble enjoying the fashion from the front row. Click through for your latest celeb fashion fix!

We’ve reached the last day of RAFW but designers and celebs are showing no signs of slowing down. The front row at Ellery featured besties Lara Bingle and Teresa Palmer, while Jennifer Hawkins modelled a tousled ’do on the catwalk. At Josh Goot, Sophie Lowe showed some off some side braid style and Erin McNaught wore her hair in signature loose waves.