As winter weighs in, it’s time for a fashion overhaul. Exit denim shorts, thongs and tank tops and enter boots, hats and scarves. But with a mild climate and beautiful warm sunny days, is Gold Coast City style the same as the rest of Australia?
We caught up with former Robina Town Centre in-house fashion stylist, designer and interstate style entrepreneur Kathryn Edmonds for her insight on Gold Coast City fashion and lifestyle.
Kathryn’s impressive career boasts multiple award-winning fashion design and fashion styling, with experience offering high-end service to nation-wide clientele and a highly respected reputation with large and fast growing client base.
Famous for fusing lifestyle and design, Kathryn’s creativity transcends borders, enabling her to create her own fashion styling business interstate, while still creatively contributing to Gold Coast City.
Kathryn’s fashion styling business specializes in personal style bookings (both large and small scale) as well as being a joint creative partner with internationally acclaimed Fashion Styling agency ID Couture, which employs qualified and hand selected stylists’ based all over Australia and the globe.
Despite living interstate, Kathryn’s feet are firmly grounded in Gold Coast City, with multiple bookings for style sessions here in our city. Seeing Gold Coast City as a premier shopping location, Kathryn will host an all inclusive shopping and styling tour for 40 corporate women this September at her favourite retail destination – Robina Town Centre. The tour will include a gorgeous lunch at the stunning Promenade at Robina Town Centre, followed by a day dedicated to shopping, with one-on-one fashion advice from Kathryn and 5 of her expert style team.
In 2007, when Kathryn graduated with a Diploma of Fashion Design from Gold Coast City’s Academy of Design, she struggled to find a niche in the local fashion market, dominated by the Coast’s signature style – surf wear. However, in those 7 years since graduating, Kathryn remarks on the rapid growth of the style scene, which has flourished to become a signature style and distinctive fashion identity that is unique to Gold Coast City.
“Each year I see new and exciting creative concepts popping up all over Gold Coast City. From a fashion designer perspective, there is so much in the way of our stunning surroundings to be inspired by on a day-to-day basis. What is unique about our city is that we go from the beach to the CBD to the tropical rainforest within minutes” Kathryn said
“From a fashion stylist perspective, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to location venues here in Gold Coast City. We can shoot campaigns and editorials using a multitude of glorious backdrops, within the same day and we have the opportunity to source new and exciting pieces from a bevy of super keen and talented emerging designers”
Kathryn’s four-year stint as the Robina Town Centre in-house fashion stylist saw her surrounded by the nations leading retailers and fashion giants, exclusively accessing their latest ranges, seasonal injections and hottest new trends as soon as they hit the shelves. She also loved to support small name labels, both local and interstate in recognition of their relentless hard work, often in home studios, creating some of the best fashion and accessories she has seen in her career.
We asked Kathryn to give us the inside scoop – what is Gold Coast City’s signature style?
“The fashion feature that sets Gold Coast City apart from other cities, such as Sydney or Melbourne, is our confidence when we dress and our ability to take risks in our personal style. Gold Coasters tend to be energetic and outgoing, seeking out adventure and fun and this identity is definitely reflected in our sense of dress. Gold Coast City major events such as the Races, charity balls and street festivals, tend to showcase our unique confidence, often an ocean of colour, print, fabrics and styles. Confidence – this is the DNA of our fashion following”
More than just the clothes on our backs, Gold Coast City has developed cultural character over the last decade that has put our community on par with capital cities.
According to Kathryn, new ideas and fresh innovation from our local people have been welcomed by local council and the business community, allowing Gold Coast City to develop it’s cool.
“Unique initiatives such as the Village Markets, Miami Marketta, James Street Festival and the Business GC Fashion Incubator are little ideas that have been brought to life by a small group of creative and passionate individuals. Gold Coast City has embraced these uber cool ‘hot spots’ with their typical vivacious energy, creating cult followings and a unique stamp for our community”
“More than just fashion, Gold Coast City has become a premier destination for culture, including art and dining. Some of the most exciting new cafes, restaurants, galleries, coffee shops and wine bars are popping up in Gold Coast City and it’s these spots that bring growth, style and personality to our city”
Kathryn lists her favourite new hot spots in Gold Coast City – Justin Lane Burleigh Heads, Hellenika Nobby Beach and contemporary artist hubs such as “St Thomas Studio” in Chevron Island founded by Claudio Kirac and “19 Karen” which showcases cutting edge emerging Australian and International artists at it’s Broadbeach gallery venue.
The results are in – no longer are we defined by surf wear alone – a burgeoning style mecca with confidence, culture and chic, Gold Coast City has carved out it’s own style and become a leader in fashion and flair.
To contact Kathryn Edmonds for your own style session and styling advice, email her at info@indigojoker.com.au
