What should I wear

Malena is the gorgeous 23 year old founder of fashion blog 'Fashion Container'. Malena moved to Perth last year from The Netherlands, to be with her boyfriend. ‘Fashion Container’ has been live for 1 year, yet is making waves in the fashion world already, with lots of collaborations and publicity (including Dutch magazine ‘Fashionista’ – wow!). Malena says, “I find it very hard to describe my personal style, but perhaps I could say it's pretty minimalistic. What I love about styling my outfits is looking for the right proportions, the perfect colour combos and to see what flatters my body most. I am a real accessory addict, I love a good statement necklace. I also have a huge obsession for jackets.” Malena’s street style shots are stunning and super inspiring – making affordable high street brands look luxuriously high end. Apart from her blog, Malena tells us that she’d love to work as a stylist and open her own online store in the future. We hope this happens soon – we’d love to be the beneficiaries of Malena’s fabulous fashion ideas!!

Ashley Rose is an ambitious and stylish 20-something year old retail manager. Living in the outskirts of Melbourne, Ashley Rose started her blog 'This Is Ashley Rose' in 2012 after wanting to create a visual diary, chronicling her daily style. ‘This is Ashley Rose’ is now a major player in the Australian plus size fashion blogging scene and hopes to bring "Fatshion" to a new level for all curvy women around the globe. Ashley Rose is also a contributing blogger to 'Skorch Magazine' and has been featured on publications such as 'Plus' model magazine, 'City Chic' blog, Grazia Magazine and Madison Plus. Ashley Rose has also worked with brands such as 17 Sundays, Big Shoe Zam, Very.com, Simply Be and Belle Curve, to name a few. Wow - what brilliant experience and knowledge Ashley Rose brings. How does she have time for her 'day job' too?! Ashley Rose tells us that she has “ambitions to bring the sketches in her head to life and model for her most beloved plus brands around the globe”. We love her style and her talent in showcasing fashion for curvy real women!

Sarah is the owner and lead Personal Stylist of The Beauty Tutor. Sarah says that her philosophy, and that of The Beauty Tutor, is to make each client feel fabulous every day. Sarah says, “It's not about forcing a client into a style that they feel uncomfortable in; it's about working with their lifestyle, personality, body shape, colouring and current favourite wardrobe pieces to create the perfect wardrobe.” Sarah is well qualified, having studied Colour and Design and worked in Retail Buying for David Jones in Australia and T.M.Lewin in London before starting The Beauty Tutor in 2006. The Beauty Tutor has also exclusively partnered with The Queen Victoria Building and The Park Hyatt Sydney.

Susan is the founder of ChangeMyImage, an image consulting and makeup business whose motto is helping valued clients go from “self conscious to self confident”. After several years as a successful corporate project manager Susan took on her biggest project yet: transforming women’s lives with a combination of style, fashion and makeup! Susan tells us that “for too long women have done little to increase their self-esteem, instead always choosing to focus on what they “don’t like” about themselves”. She helps women to focus on the positives and create their own unique style, even on a limited budget. In the past year, Susan also trained at Napoleon Perdis Makup Academy and extended her business into makeup artisty and online makeup sales. As a passionate traveller and follower of European makeup and fashion, Susan loves all things French including this quote from YSL: "I have always believed that fashion was not only to make women more beautiful, but also to reassure them, give them confidence.".

Brittney is a fashion stylist and has her own brand new fashion blog 'Alexander and Jade'. Brittney’s blog is a great mix of style photos (with Brittney showcasing current looks) and also lots of images of fashion. Brittney tells us that she is extremely passionate about fashion and made the decision to start a career in styling because she believed in the importance of loving what you do. She says, “To me fashion is a form of expression and a way to present your personality to the world. I don't believe in being a slave to trends, what's important is finding what works best for you and your body shape. Coco Chanel said it best "fashion fades, only style remains the same" and I love being able to help people find and embrace their own personal style.”

Sally Mackinnon of Styled by Sally is a leading Personal Stylist and Wardrobe Consultant in Melbourne who specialises in reconnecting her clients with their innate style. Sally helps men and women feel confident about their personal style by showing them how to dress for their shape, lifestyle and budget. Sally Mackinnon is a professional image consultant who has an expert eye for style and understands the right cuts to flatter all body shapes. “We can all be forgiven for getting confused by fashion, despondent about our body image and feeling too stressed and busy to give ourselves the style we deserve. It's about working with what you've got and helping you to best dress to suit your shape”.

Styled by Sally believes that with a little guidance and support everyone can dress with style and success.

Steph Allen is the clever creator of ‘Fashion According to Steph’. Steph has been our fabulous Ms January and shared her tips on decluttering in our blog last week! She has kindly agreed to share her style secrets with us too! Steph Allen is a Brisbane-based fashion blogger who has been writing ‘Fashion According to Steph’ since 2009. Her blog is a fun, light hearted take on the latest trends and her musings about all things clothes, shoes and bags. Her aim is to entertain readers with her tongue-in-cheek take on fashion and inspire them to have fun with their look and not take it too seriously. She can also bargain shop with the best of them and loves making great outfits without breaking the bank. Her tagline is ‘fashion is frivolous, and oh so fun’ which is reflected in both her blog and her wardrobe.

Sophia Chowdhury is the blogger behind ‘Everyday Like This’. Sophia is a digital media and marketing student by day...fashionista by night. She started her blog 3 years ago, which has given her some amazing experiences including working with supermodel Samantha Harris at LMFF, assisting designer Aurielo Costarella backstage at MBFWA for his 2012/13 debut and meeting renowned blogger Rumi Neely from ‘Fashion Toast’. Sophia also works very closely with Grandma Funk Vintage and helps run their online fashion store and create their campaigns for each new season. Sophia is also the Fashion Director at NVA Design Studio where they help clients with websites, business cards, lookbooks and everything in between. Sophia tells us that her style is very versatile, depending on her mood. ‘Everyday Like This’ looks at the life of Melbourne fashion, from street style to interviews with designers and fellow bloggers. She says, “There’s a bit of everything on there but I always keep it true to my style as fashion for me has become a lifestyle...it’s just Everyday Like This” :).

Miranda is a personal stylist and fashion blogger based in Melbourne. Initially qualified as a Financial Risk Analyst, Miranda pursued her true passion and furthered her studies as a fully qualified Professional Stylist and Image Consultant. It was on that foundation that she built ‘SAKHINO Image & Style Consulting’ - a unique, boutique style consultancy. Mirandas Inside Scoop is her fashion–blog. It’s how she relaxes and lets her hair down. Miranda tells us, “ It’s fun, fresh, and ferociously fabulous.” She also says she is a self confessed fashion addict with a soft spot for bold colours and big hair. In fact Miranda admits that people recognise her iconic "fro-hawk" hairstyle before they recognise her. She is a macaroon enthusiast and is intrigued by the sights and sounds of Morocco. Miranda concedes that her extensive collection of international fashion magazines is slowly taking over her house. Miranda is a firm believer that style is the best form of self-expression without having to say a word...Therefore, she says, "Go Forth and be Fabulous!"

Firstly we feel so lucky to have the very talented and experienced Emily Power join us!  You may have seen, heard or read about Emily recently due to her wonderful writing and tv appearances.  Emily is a fashion writer who covers news and trends daily for www.fashionistasguide.com.au, a new source for lifestyle, fashion and culture. Emily works in book publishing for Melbourne's The Slattery Media Group. She is the co-editor and co-author of the Fashionista's Guide to Shopping in Melbourne and the editor and co-author of Fashion & Flemington. Before joining the fashion desk at SMG, Emily had a long journalism career at Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper, including a stint as the former fashion reporter/editor, and was the fashion presenter on Channel Ten's morning show The Circle. 

Next we have Nicole Vine, possibly one of the most qualified (and nicest!) stylists we've ever met!  A lawyer by trade, and having swapped her LLB for an LBD, Nicole is a Melbourne-based wardrobe stylist. Nicole tells us that "after clawing my way back from the fashion wilderness following the birth of my third child, I discovered my calling - to help others, at any stage of life, to unlock their own personal style, increase confidence, save energy, time and money and often encourage far-reaching life changes."  Nicole also loves to write and recently started her blog 'Unlocked Style' which focuses on style tips for everyday dressing injected with a dose of humour. Nicole is also an official blogger for Chadstone The Fashion Capital and in 2013 will be launching her Corporate Style Workshops aimed at showing clients how to dress for success in their careers, while still maintaining and exploring their own personal style. “I am super excited to be part of the What Should I Wear Style Panel - I get a real buzz out of contributing to this forum, everyone is so warm, encouraging and positive. There is a real sense of caring which is wonderful to be involved with”.

Finally we are delighted to introduce the gorgeous Jess Dempsey of 'What Would Karl Do'.  WWKD is the popular fashion blog of Aussie stylist and fashion guru Jess. With a wardrobe that most girls covet, Jess is the epitome of a true- blue fashionista, pulling together directional looks and channelling inspiration from style icons Karl Lagerfeld and Anna Dello Russo. Jess says, "with content aimed at both the local and international audience, 'What Would Karl Do' inspires the fashion lover to dare to be fashion confident, mixing high street and high end and invites the reader to take a little piece of my style with them". 

Sevan is currently undertaking her Masters in Interior Design but has always had a special place for fashion. She started her blog “Seven Autumn Leaves” ? as a creative outlet to share her personal style and anything else related to fashion. Sevan tells us she has a weakness for shoes, handbags and beautiful statement necklaces. Her wardrobe is usually a mix of Australian brands and international brands bought in Dubai, where she was born and raised. A few months ago, Sevan also started her own jewellery label with the same name. She wanted to mesh her two worlds and combined her love of fashion and architecture into her laser cut pieces made from plywood and perspex. See them here!

Giarne has a Diploma in Fashion Business and is a fashion stylist and image consultant. She also runs her own blog ‘Sydney Fashion Stylist', which showcases trends, style, editorials and a peek into her world. Like many talented women in the styling and fashion industry Giarne manages to juggle lots of work and projects! Giarne currently teaches at The Fashion Institute and is the ‘Sydney Insider’ for StyleHunter.com. As part of this role Giarne gets to attend lots of fashion and beauty launches, runways, showings and parties, so she can share the secrets with us! Giarne has also been part of various projects, editorials, television productions and published in magazines such as Style Bungalow, JetGala, Fahshionising.com and TrendHunter.com. Giarne has also worked on set with the TV series Home & Away and the up-coming TV series Antonia Paris and The Republic, so we look forward to getting the inside scoop on these shows!

Lisa Hamilton, a born and bred Melbourne girl, is the author of emerging style and fashion blog SEE WANT SHOP. After returning home from a working holiday in the UK, where she was surrounded by the fashion meccas of Europe, Lisa tells us she was inspired to start sharing her own style and inspiration. Lisa loves to pair a stunning designer piece, with more affordable high street brands to create a gorgeous look. Her love for photography and blogging has also led Lisa to join the Official Chadstone Blogger Team for Chadstone The Fashion Capital. Lisa concedes she is an online shopping addict with a soft spot for strappy heels and a good fitting blazer. Hoping to one day start up her own fashion e-boutique, Lisa believes that "the perfect wardrobe piece can give a girl confidence like nothing else in the world can."

Emily Collie is the editor of her fashion blog ‘Melbourne Girl’ and director of her design studio ‘melbgirl.com’. She is also a freelance fashion writer, contributing to both online and print publications including Fjorde Magazine and Melbourne City Newspaper. Born and raised in country NSW, Emily says that “Melbourne has without a doubt moulded my fashion style. Retaining key fashion values like freedom and independence, Melbourne has opened my eyes to a new light of ‘urban’ sophistication and spirit. Often Melbourne is referred to as the fashion capital of Australia. However, after travelling around Europe and America I would push that title to ‘Fashion Capital of the World’! The creative talent and diversity of designers/retailers based right here in Melbourne are second to none. We have every style we could ever imagine, and the freedom and flexibility to find it when and where we want – be it a secluded laneway, funky suburban shopping strip or fast-paced shopping centre.”

Georgie Campbell has worked with many leading fashion brands and retailers as a creative force, designer, buyer, stylist and fashion consultant for over 12 years. After taking some time out to have her two beautiful little girls, Georgie launched The Fashion Stylista website; a community for fashion savvy women who love all things fashion and style.  Her site features the hottest wearable looks and trends from Australia around the globe.

"I love fashion and find each facet of the industry, from high-end designer to the high-street and fabulous vintage finds, so much fun.  Fashion for me is all about finding your style and enjoying your sartorial choices each and every day.  Sometimes fashion can be a little confusing and overwhelming…so my passion is to help women discover and embrace their own fabulous style and love their wardrobes, one glamorous day at a time”.

Over the past 12 months Georgie has been consulting and styling up a storm with many clients and major brands from Melbourne Central, Chadstone The Fashion Capital, L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia and has appeared on Channel 7’s ‘A Current Affair’, offering her fashion and styling expertise. Most recently Georgie has been presenting her ‘Wearable Workshops by Georgie Campbell’ and ‘The Look by Georgie Campbell’ at Melbourne Central…sharing her industry knowledge and fashion advice.

Moving from the UK to Sydney 6 years ago, was the best move Rachel Coakley ever made. “Sydney is my favourite city in the world; I met my husband to be here and started Ruby Slippers Styling. I also have my family here now and amazing friends, life is super busy, but I couldn't be happier”.?

Rachel started Ruby Slippers Styling to help guys and girls of all ages, shapes and budgets find their style mojo. The busy personal stylists share their knowledge and expertise with clients and share tips and style insights in the blog.?The company motto is maximise what you already have and buy what you really need. Rachel happily admits to not listening to this when it comes to shoes - you can NEVER have too many pairs!!!

Michelle Ruth is the owner of one of Australia's hottest emerging blogs. Since launching Michelle's Style File in January 2011, Michelle has shown her flair for easily accessible fashion that is classic with a modern twist. Michelle has a knack for pairing High St brands with every day retailers to create a gorgeous outfit. Michelle's sense of style has already been recognised by features in online fashion magazines and she was also the winner of the 2011 Bardot Street Style competition.

Michelle has a special love for high heels and tells us that a fabulous shoe can add so much to an outfit, as well as a boost to ones self confidence!

Mikaela started her blog The Fashion Lookout in November 2011, to share her daily style and DIY’s. Last year Mikaela was accepted into the 2011 edition of Top Designs for her Yr 12 work, which will be displayed at Melbourne Museum this month. Pop in and see her beautiful work! When it comes to fashion Mikaela loves to find affordable alternatives to the high street brands and says she loves “showing others how to get a sophisticated look without emptying their bank accounts”. Mikaela studied textiles at school and loves to make her own clothes and accessories. She is a self-confessed shoe addict and has an enviable collection consisting of over 60 pairs of shoes! So many, in fact, that they fill a wardrobe, bookshelf and two separate shoe racks. Mikaela also has the dangerous occupation of working in a shoe store! Mikaela is studying Costume this year and tells us she “would love to incorporate the more quirky/fun side of this into my everyday styles!”

Lara is an experienced fashion stylist from Melbourne, who runs The Paper Doll. Lara helps individuals, groups and corporates, as well as running fashion events, functions and workshops. A Scot from Edinburgh, with an Aussie husband and 2 ‘Scozie’ boys(!), Lara has lived in Melbourne for 10 years and loves it. Having the luxury of regularly traveling overseas to spend time with family and friends, to see (and buy!) the amazing fashions in Europe, she is also a huge supporter of Australian fashion. “I am awe of the large, talented group of home-grown Australian designers, whose creativity, money, time, blood, sweat & tears continuously provide us with wonderful pieces to enjoy and treasure.” Lara also tells us, “I have a vice that is common amongst many of us - I live and breathe trends, style, designers and fashion! Styling allows me to share my expertise and knowledge while doing what I absolutely love.”

Sarah’s passion for fashion might be a cliché, but it is her unique take on life that adds spark and colour to her runway reporting. Sarah says that “after spending all my disposable income on shoes and bags, I discovered that writing about fashion was just as enjoyable as walking down Chapel Street window shopping!”. Through her blog, Sarah has her finger on the pulse of not only the worldwide fashion scene, but local Melbourne lifestyle; uncovering bars, coffee spots and events for everyone’s tastes. Between the fabulous fashion and cosmopolitan lifestyle, Sarah hunts for bargains, attends fabulous soiree’s and freelances her skills across a number of clients, industries and roles. Sarah’s words to live by? “You can never have too many shoes.” Hear, hear.

Linda is a 20-something Canadian, currently living in Melbourne. She loves art, mochas, indie music, and fashion design. When Linda is not at work, she tells us that she spends most of her days listening to records, creating accessories, or altering her clothing. Linda describes herself as a Political Science/International Development Studies, university drop-out who left her degree, to follow her true passion which is Art, in the forms of fashion, photography and illustration. In terms of style, Linda says, “It's hard to describe my style, as I love playing dress ups! Clothing is your personality of the day. At best, I would say that I'm a bit office casual, meets granola woods woman, with a hint of masculinity”. I love Linda’s creativity and sense of humour within her words and her fabulous street style photos.

Miranda is a personal stylist and fashion blogger based in Melbourne. Initially qualified as a Financial Risk Analyst, Miranda pursued her true passion and furthered her studies as a fully qualified Professional Stylist and Image Consultant. It was on that foundation that she built ‘SAKHINO Image & Style Consulting’ - a unique, boutique style consultancy. Mirandas Inside Scoop is her fashion–blog. It’s how she relaxes and lets her hair down. Miranda tells us, “ It’s fun, fresh, and ferociously fabulous.” She also says she is a self confessed fashion addict with a soft spot for bold colours and big hair. In fact Miranda admits that people recognise her iconic "fro-hawk" hairstyle before they recognise her. She is a macaroon enthusiast and is intrigued by the sights and sounds of Morocco. Miranda concedes that her extensive collection of international fashion magazines is slowly taking over her house. Miranda is a firm believer that style is the best form of self-expression without having to say a word...Therefore, she says, "Go Forth and be Fabulous!"

Rosie began her career as a stylist 8 years ago and since then has worked with many amazing designers, photographers and hair and makeup artists, and styled looks for many local and international celebrities for the covers and pages of magazines and the red carpet. She has worked with some interesting people include Ricki-Lee Coulter, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Jessica Gomes, Deborah-Lee Furness, Kerri Anne Kennerley, Lee Furlong, Ruby Rose, Katrina Bowden and Rachel Finch! Rosie tells us, “For me, style is about fashioning looks with spark; teaming together the unexpected to create outfits with X-factor. One of the most rewarding parts of being a stylist is seeing people’s faces light up when I dress them in something they would “never think to wear”, giving them the confidence to dress outside their comfort zone.” Travel is also another area she is passionate about, with New York and Bangkok two of her favourite destinations. Rosie says, “ I guess it helps they are both renowned for good shopping, too!”

Mona is the owner of a brand new store in Fitzroy, Melbourne, called “Robe”, where she sells pre-loved designer clothes that she has purchased in New York and LA. Mona also makes amazing one-off and custom designs from luxurious fabrics for her clients. She tells us, “I started learning to sew when I was 7 – a hot pink tube dress for my Cindy doll, but you had to pull her head off to get it on. Thankfully for my clients, I’ve come a long way since then.” Mona studied a degree in Fashion Technology in Auckland, specialising in costume for stage and screen. However straight out of fashion school Mona embarked upon a decade-long career in the banking industry! After 10 years she decided that this wasn’t quite enough to fuel her creative side so, while holidaying in New York last year she came up with the idea of Robe! Mona tells us, “I love it when customers come in and get excited about putting an outfit together, mixing and matching, that’s exactly what I had in mind when I came up with the Robe concept.”

Suzie is the founder of StyliseMe. Suzie tells us that she has had a long and passionate love affair with all things fashion for years! Suzie lived and worked in London for over 8 years where she was fortunate enough to indulge her love for fashion at London Fashion weeks and regularly shopping at the mecca that is Oxford & Regent St & The Kings Road. With a natural style that is colourful, daring and bold, Suzie regularly updates her wardrobe looks with both high street & vintage additions. You can find Suzie on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram all under Styliseme!

Meaghan is a Personal Stylist and blogger from Melbourne who is passionate about helping real women of all ages, shapes and sizes with varying budgets and lifestyles, look and feel the very best they can. Megan tells us that she loves old things, is addicted to blogs and online shopping sites, has a weakness for happily-ever-after movies and dreams of one day having her own apartment in Paris. She is also an avid collector of beautiful books, loves a full-bodied glass of red, and says she could eat her body weight in French cheese!

Brittney is a fashion stylist and has her own brand new fashion blog 'Alexander and Jade'. Brittney’s blog is a great mix of style photos (with Brittney showcasing current looks) and also lots of images of fashion. Brittney tells us that she is extremely passionate about fashion and made the decision to start a career in styling because she believed in the importance of loving what you do. She says, “To me fashion is a form of expression and a way to present your personality to the world. I don't believe in being a slave to trends, what's important is finding what works best for you and your body shape. Coco Chanel said it best "fashion fades, only style remains the same" and I love being able to help people find and embrace their own personal style.”

Katy is the founder of the Katy Potaty blog. In her words: “I am a child of the 80′s, a teenager of the 90′s, and a retail worker of the Noughties. This explains my love of Jen Aniston’s hair, The Lion King, and the denim vest in my closet with which I cannot part. My work background is years of faithful retail service in high-street stores like French Connection and Witchery, interspersed with some business management, administration and education roles – this has given me a reasonably conservative wardrobe, filled with basics, I add accessories every season for a fresh, on-trend take on the latest looks. I've recently married my sweetheart relocated back to the Sunshine Coast where we met. I'm loving the relaxing life in a seaside town which thinks it's a big city - it means the shopping is pretty darn good here! I started blogging whilst working full-time in administration as both an outlet for some creative writing, and an offshoot of my small business, Katy Potaty’s Cupcakes. Not only does my blog provide you with delicious recipes for sweet treats, I also share a lot of fashion and beauty stuff that I love, have occasional giveaways of awesome beauty and cosmetics, and throw in a little general wittiness about life, travels, planning events, and cool little projects. If you’d like a little sweet inspiration and a peek into my life, you should check out my blog!”

Jasmine was on our VERY first style panel when we launched! Since we last met Jasmine has not only celebrated her first year in retail business, but has also begun teaching at the renowned Whitehouse Institute of Design. Jasmine’s boutique, Casa Mimo (which she opened with her Mum last year), is situated on the buzzing Carlisle Street in Balaclava. Casa Mimo provides an eclectic mix of vintage and new clothing. Jasmine graduated from Whitehouse Institute of Design in 2010 obtaining a Bachelor of Design, Majoring in Fashion and winning the prestigious “Graduate Student of the Year’ award. She has worked for numerous fashion companies both locally and internationally and has gained an abundance of knowledge and experience by doing so.

Kathryn is a fashion stylist from Robina in Queensland. Kathryn provided her savvy style advice for our “Day of Style” competition winner recently. We loved her professionalism, stylish suggestions and helpful approach. Kathryn is an experienced fashion stylist, as well as the Creative Director and Owner of her own fashion label, Indigo Joker. With her keen eye for detail, creative flair and vast knowledge in this field, she brings a fresh and modern approach to her clients. Find out more about Kathryn’s background and her fast growing fashion label at http://www.indigojoker.com/

With more than nine years experience as a stylist, Lydia is a veteran of the fashion industry. Lydia has worked with magazines around the world and advertising brands such as Bebe, Dr Lewinns and Qantas and dressed celebrities that include Katrina Bowden from 30 Rock and American Pie in the USA to local Australian celebrities. Lydia has also been lead stylist on many catwalk shows including the annual Breast Cancer Care Ball, the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in London and the Doltone House Melbourne Cup Show in Sydney. Lydia is based in Sydney, but travels often to London and beyond, keeping her up to date on the latest international trends; from street wear in London’s West End to Haute Couture in Paris. From the catwalk to the boardroom, to everyday life, Lydia is an expert in creating fashionable, functional and fabulous wardrobes to suit your style, personality and lifestyle.

Courtney is a public relations student as well as the creator and author of The Window Shopper, one of Australia’s newest blogs. We stumbled across The Window Shopper recently and loved her very accessible advice, great photos and smart approach to fashion. Courtney (or Miss C!) tells us she has always been a lover of fashion and design and has a soft spot for skirts, peplums and a statement necklace (or two). She shops with a quality over quantity mantra in mind and believes that girls on a budget cannot afford to buy cheap clothes. The Window Shopper takes readers through the story of a girl’s struggle to build the perfect wardrobe and look glam all on a student’s budget, as well as a few DIY’s and recipes thrown in for fun. The blog is a must read for any fashion lover who can relate to that feeling of looking into their wardrobe with nothing to wear!

Emily is the editor of her fashion blog ‘Melbourne Girl’ and director of her design studio ‘melbgirl.com’. She is also a freelance fashion writer, contributing to both online and print publications including Fjorde Magazine and Melbourne City Newspaper. Born and raised in country NSW, Emily says that “Melbourne has without a doubt moulded my fashion style. Retaining key fashion values like freedom and independence, Melbourne has opened my eyes to a new light of ‘urban’ sophistication and spirit. Often Melbourne is referred to as the fashion capital of Australia. However, after travelling around Europe and America I would push that title to ‘Fashion Capital of the World’! The creative talent and diversity of designers/retailers based right here in Melbourne are second to none. We have every style we could ever imagine, and the freedom and flexibility to find it when and where we want – be it a secluded laneway, funky suburban shopping strip or fast-paced shopping centre.”

Valerie is based in Sydney and is an ex corporate girl who realized life was too short to not be doing what she was passionate about. Valerie tells us that her greatest love is fashion and shopping and that she “came out of the womb with a Prada dress, a Chanel bag and Jimmy Choos, all from ebay of course”. Valerie says she has been shopping and styling her friends for as long as she can remember (handy friend to have!). She tells us that she loves helping clients select the most flattering shapes for their bodies, lifestyles, colours and preferences, so there are no more “I have nothing to wear” moments. Valerie is also a big advocate of “shop your closet” – she loves ensuring that clients are getting the best use from their existing wardrobe pieces and that nothing is overlooked or forgotten about. Valerie loves helping other people look their best.

Cheryl is the founder and editor of business fashion website, BusinessChic.com.au. She scouts and photographs stylish professionals to give the rest of us ideas on what we can wear in our own workplaces and work-related events. Her work has appeared in Melbourne Street Fashion, The Age, Vogue, Peppermint Magazine and Grazia as well as numerous guest blogs for sites like lust, The Fetch and Melbourne Tweed Ride. Cheryl enjoys working with busy mums and professionals to build a work wardrobe within budget and the constraints of life. Her Black Dress Project series is one such solution that she has developed where Cheryl will herself model 52 different ways of styling one Little Black Dress (LBD) for work over the course of this year! (How clever is this? I am definitely following Cheryl to get some tips!)

Mikaela started her blog The Fashion Lookout in November 2011, to share her daily style and DIY’s. Last year Mikaela was accepted into the 2011 edition of Top Designs for her Yr 12 work, which will be displayed at Melbourne Museum this month. Pop in and see her beautiful work! When it comes to fashion Mikaela loves to find affordable alternatives to the high street brands and says she loves “showing others how to get a sophisticated look without emptying their bank accounts”. Mikaela studied textiles at school and loves to make her own clothes and accessories. She is a self-confessed shoe addict and has an enviable collection consisting of over 60 pairs of shoes! So many, in fact, that they fill a wardrobe, bookshelf and two separate shoe racks. Mikaela also has the dangerous occupation of working in a shoe store! Mikaela is studying Costume this year and tells us she “would love to incorporate the more quirky/fun side of this into my everyday styles!”

The very friendly and enthusiastic Thu joins us on behalf of MarketHQ. Thu is soon to graduate from The Fashion Institute and loves to blog in her spare time on Original Number. Thu works at the online fashion store MARKET HQ, selling clothes, shoes and accessories. Thu’s passion for her work and customer service is evident and she says “the outfits are styled from head to toe with love. Working at a retail online store, I always think it’s important to put the customer first and communicate well with them to make them happy!”

Founded by Sydney fashionista, Joelyne, The Sydney Girl is an addictive insider's view on everything fashion, lifestyle and beauty for the style savvy. Over the past year, The Sydney Girl has collaborated with a range of exciting brands including Westfield Australia, The Laser Lounge & Celebrity Thread. Joelyne has been recognised as a top blogger in Australia, rated by editd and featured as one of the top 10 fashion bloggers in Australia's leading magazine, Ragtrader.

Sevan is a final year interior design student who has always been fascinated by fashion and style. She started her blog “ Seven Autumn Leaves” to share that fascination and the fun of putting together an affordable outfit. She also shares a passion for all kinds of design and photography, which are evident in her blog as well. Sevan has a weakness for shoes, handbags and beautiful statement necklaces. Her wardrobe is usually a mix of Australian brands and international brands bought from Dubai, where she was born and raised.

Penny is a stylist who founded J’adore Styling, in Melbourne. Penny has always loved fashion. After 5 years in the fashion industry Penny started J’adore Styling in December 2010 to provide Personal Fashion Styling and Wardrobe Consultancy services. She has a true flair for fashion and an eye for detail that she uses to assist everyday people with practical fashion advice and guidance to feel good about the way they dress and the image they want to convey. Penny believes fashion should be fun and aims to take the stress out of what to wear by assisting people to find their own personal style. Penny says, “Let your wardrobe do the work and embrace your shape to feel confident everyday”.

Michelle Ruth is the owner of one of Australia's hottest emerging blogs. Since launching Michelle's Style File in January 2011, Michelle has shown her flair for easily accessible fashion that is classic with a modern twist. Michelle has a knack for pairing High St brands with every day retailers to create a gorgeous outfit. Michelle's sense of style has already been recognised by features in online fashion magazines and she was also the winner of the 2011 Bardot Street Style competition.

Michelle has a special love for high heels and tells us that a fabulous shoe can add so much to an outfit, as well as a boost to ones self confidence!

Anika Walker is a Melbourne based fashion stylist and the owner of  YOUR LOOK. She works as both a fashion stylist & personal stylist and is one of Chadstone Shopping Centre’s very talented stylists. Working between commercial jobs and private clients has allowed Anika to work closely with designers and then translate looks and current trends back to clients whilst staying true to their personal style. As Anika says, “we all want to walk out the door each morning and love what we are wearing as it makes us feel confident. If we know we look good it makes us feel like we can take on the world.”

We were blown away by Katarina’s super stylish photos and were rapt that she could join us! Katarina started ‘Katica Style’ in October 2011 as a way to express her personal style and love for all things fashion. Katarina has always had a passion for fashion and tells us that she has early memories of collecting Vogue Magazines and reading any fashion related publications she could get her hands on! Katarina believes everyone has the potential to be stylish and this is shown through her blog as she presents affordable and attainable looks by creating outfits with designer items and chain store buys.

Katy is from KatyPotaty. “I am a child of the 80′s, a teenager of the 90′s, and a retail worker of the Noughties. This explains my love of Jen Aniston’s hair, The Lion King, and the denim vest in my closet with which I cannot part. My work background is years of faithful retail service in high-street stores like French Connection and Witchery, interspersed with some business management and administration roles – this has given me a reasonably conservative wardrobe, filled with basics, I add accessories every season for a fresh, on-trend take on the latest looks. I'm currently living out of the city (sad face), but loving the relaxing life in a seaside town. The downside is the lack of shopping (Millers is as good as it gets!), so I'm learning to search through discount rails, and of course online retailers are a lifesaver for a small-town girl! I started blogging whilst working full-time in administration as both an outlet for some creative writing, and an offshoot of my small business, Katy Potaty’s Cupcakes. The blog is now a home away from home for me, full of inspiration, recipes, fashion and real-life ramblings – and is currently being used as a moodboard for all my bridal ideas for our upcoming Port Douglas destination wedding!”

Kathryn is a fashion stylist from Robina in Queensland. Kathryn provided her savvy style advice for our “Day of Style” competition winner recently. We loved her professionalism, stylish suggestions and helpful approach. Kathryn is an experienced fashion stylist, as well as the Creative Director and Owner of her own fashion label, Indigo Joker. With her keen eye for detail, creative flair and vast knowledge in this field, she brings a fresh and modern approach to her clients. Find out more about Kathryn’s background and her fast growing fashion label at http://www.indigojoker.com/

Wendy Grace is the developer behind the emerging fashion blog Little Jimmy's Girl (started in May 2011). She studied Cert IV in Fashion Business at The Melbourne School Of Fashion. Wendy is now extending her skills by completing a Diploma in Professional Photo, TV, Film and Personal Styling at The Australian College of Professional Styling, which she plans to pursue as a career. Wendy's blog began as a go-to place for all her inspirations and musings. She wanted to share her love of fashion with others through lookbooks, editorials, current trends and her choice of must-have pieces. 'Little Jimmy's Girl' is a name that has stuck with Wendy since she was a young girl and is dedicated to her late father James Grace, who Wendy describes as "an inspirational figure and true gentleman who taught me that it is never to late to chase your dreams."

Mira Smoljko opened Glamazon Shoes in May 2010 in Melbourne (and online) after years of frustration in trying to find stylish and fashionable shoes for her size 11 feet. After being exposed to a parade of ‘granny’ styles, she figured that there must be more women and girls out there that had the height and size 10+ feet to match. When selecting styles for the shop, Mira’s criteria are simple: shoes must be stylish, affordable AND go to at least a size 13. Mira loves fashion and helping her customers awaken their latent shoe fetish to create whatever look they’re after. Her mission is to not just provide bigger shoes, but to establish her Glamazon customers as fashion leaders.

Michelle Ruth is the owner of one of Australia's hottest emerging blogs. Since launching Michelle's Style File in January 2011, Michelle has shown her flair for easily accessible fashion that is classic with a modern twist. Michelle has a knack for pairing High St brands with every day retailers to create a gorgeous outfit. Michelle's sense of style has already been recognised by features in online fashion magazines and she was also the winner of the 2011 Bardot Street Style competition.

Michelle has a special love for high heels and tells us that a fabulous shoe can add so much to an outfit, as well as a boost to ones self confidence!

Sally Mackinnon of Styled by Sally is a leading Personal Stylist and Wardrobe Consultant in Melbourne who specialises in reconnecting her clients with their innate style. Sally helps men and women feel confident about their personal style by showing them how to dress for their shape, lifestyle and budget. Sally Mackinnon is a professional image consultant who has an expert eye for style and understands the right cuts to flatter all body shapes. “We can all be forgiven for getting confused by fashion, despondent about our body image and feeling too stressed and busy to give ourselves the style we deserve. It's about working with what you've got and helping you to best dress to suit your shape”.

Styled by Sally believes that with a little guidance and support everyone can dress with style and success.