whoever i was then, i can't ever be again.

this long weekend consisted of all the good things in life. long chats, furry friends, doodling, inner west living,

 communal catch ups, and excessive food and chocolate intake. i documented this in the form of photographs, as i do.

p.s the highlight of this Easter break was scoring a pair of second hand overalls during my stroll in Newtown. definitely winning this weekend! :)

Charlotte.

this is Charlotte, a beautiful waitress originally from Perth. 
she was nice enough to sit down and let me snap her while on her shift. 
a Maiden potential indeed.

swag is for boys. class is for men.

...and i could not agree more with that statement. 

there's this pilgrimage that happens twice a year in the fashion capital city of Florence, where the masses of stylish men flock to view the latest menswear collections, gadgets and gear. they call it Pitti Uomo. i have a huge appreciation for menswear, both street and formal, hence my 3:2 ratio of women's and men's clothing in my wardrobe. the craftsmanship is next to nothing when it comes to tailoring and detail with men's fashion. it's a well composed combination of structure, colour, texture, functionality, modernism and tradition. i'd easily choose to witness this trade show over a Celine parade any day. bucketlisted.

photo credits: I'M KOO, Becaria De La Moda, The Sartorialist.

a decade under the influence.

photography by Raelene Baget of RnR productions
styling & art direction by Maie Dionisio

the obsession i have with photographs is slightly similar to the one i have with people. i hoard them and won’t let them go until i decide they are not worth the space in my box. 

the title of this post suggests the time i have invested in building my signature style and direction. one that i have developed from personal interests and experiences. style is objective just like everything else that is put forth to the public eye for critique and scrutiny. i appreciate clever photography and digital manipulation because if you actually think about it, it’s really just a still image of someone’s dream or nightmare. i’d like to make clear that i don’t live and breath fashion. i hate who it speaks to, the vein and materialistic. but art; it ‘is the application of human skill and imagination’. it is not there to be liked or judged. it is one’s comprehension or misconception of the subject matter. and for people to say that they ‘do not understand art’, is like saying they have no conscious of anything other than what this consumed world feeds us. these photos were taken by one of my dearest friends whom i have known since we were nine. and today she turns twenty-eight. this is one friendship i'm archiving for a lifetime.

i’ll end this post with a line from What Dreams May Come: 

“thought is real. physical is the illusion…”

not the same.

this month i have not one but two up close and personal shoots lined up with a couple of dear photographer friends of mine. i have had my portraits taken before but i have never really liked them all that much. i find it strange to be directed by someone who doesn't know you, and therefore they portray you far from your true being. the difference in these shoots will be that i am art directing them. it will be interesting to see how it pans out. so for now i am practising my game face as i cannot pose or smile on cue. alot of hair, that is all i'm suggesting.

science and progress.

people find it unfortunate that i still haven't found 'the one'. but why?
i find all the qualities i want in a guy in the men i keep in my life. my friend writes:

...i know you still think alot of ----. in my defence you know that i love you to the moon and back, like literally a sister.

i would cut my skin off for you if needed, and because of this i'm not his biggest fan. i feel like this is mostly because if i were a heterosexual male (god forbid, i'd only be half as chic) i would wrap you up in Yamamoto and never let you go, (i realise this statement makes me gayer than ever). your relationship was serious and your dedication to it was incredibly admirable, and is now something i try to emulate in my own stupid relationship. i just want you to be treated by a boy as well as the energy you put out in to the world. deep down i can be a stupid boy and boys are mostly shit.
i hope you can forgive me. Aaliyah.

i love that my friends include my most favourite things in apology notes. morbid gestures, Yohji and babygirl.

this message feels as sincere and humbling as the time a boy shouted out "hey girl in the camo, 

do you have a boyfriend? if you do i hope he treats you well!", after stepping out of a club in my Dickies.

oh the glory days. 

a wizard, a cat and an honorary English man. they're not here at the moment. and i miss them. that is all :)

suit versus.

WARNING: may cause headache and nausea. 

a scattered blueprint of what will come this 2013.

the making of...

we're now streaming on YouTube. keep updated through Facebook and Google+ for more of Maiden's concept ideas, progress and general state of mind...

AW 2013 New Season Launch.

[ me at 6am on Castlereagh St, Dion Lee, Bianca Spender, Josh Goot, blueprint sketch ]

so i'm close to reaching three years at good ole David Jones. this window run is extra special because not only is it the darkest i've ever seen these installations, but also, i finally got the opportunity to project manage this launch. if you happen to be passing by make sure to check out the whole run, from the exquisite beauty showcases, through the glamorous main bullnose windows, until you make it round to my girls. the team definitely brought their A-game this new collection. walked past Myer on the way home, you guys may stock Givenchy but i can proudly say... we got this!

this is why we hate you.

so there’s this fashion blog which has been the main subject of conversation at work for the past 2 weeks. just a quick rundown of what the blog is about: two Sydney ‘fashion bloggers’ who easily between the two have accumulated over 25k followers on their blog and instagram accounts. i, being one of them. but not anymore, and this is why…

not for the fact that either actually have style judging from the amount of #ootd #selfie pictures they take, nor is it because they claim to purchase and name drop designer labels making people think they live the oh so envious ‘fashionista’ life, but because of this… one of the ladies had just uploaded a shot of her new calling cards with the title ‘EDITOR’ under her infamous name. and if you know me personally, you’d know that i am not one to be easily annoyed or frustrated. but this post just took the piss out of what it means to be a creator of something worth a ‘like’. and so i commented with these words:

"ok, so i follow your blog and instagram as a fellow fashion enthusiast. but ‘editor’? of what? the real creative’s behind these pictures need to be credited. not just where you cut and paste jpegs from. please don’t reply with hate mail, i just feel very passionate about the art behind these pictures."
 and one minute later, the comment was deleted. not even a comeback? i would respect these girls if they actually made a story with the photos they post on their ‘daily delights’ or grabbed a proper camera to take shots of their outfits. in this day and age, it’s almost impossible to have ownership with what you upload online without watermarking all your work. this “editor” just printed a stack of business cards with a collage of editorials that she did not photograph, style or EDIT.  and she gave herself the title of editor, go figure. mind you they have been photographed for Vogue online and had been part of an SDS campaign where she recreated/designed customers denim shorts with buttons and shit. let’s throw designer and stylist on the qualifications too shall we.

but in general, fashion blogs are becoming a joke! flashing designer gear DOES NOT make you stylish nor does it make you some kind of fashion icon. you ARE NOT Moss, Slimane or Centenera!! (unless you really are and happen to be reading this). do your research on the history and aesthetics of these fashion houses you like sooo have to have for next season and upload on instagram, before you hashtag the shit out of your keyboards.

the end. like my post or i will defriend or block you.

p.s all you hipsters repping Tupac slogans, this shirt is for you. 

art, the life we chose.

i began 2012 with my annual trip back to Manila, where i met a couple of strange looking designers dressed in all black. then and there i knew the year would bring me to different corners of the world where i would keep crossing paths with such creative and interesting creatures. this is just a post to toast those who have played a huge part in my life, personally and creatively. i've always been considered the 'weird' one in my social groups, and now i have grown close to a handful of other dreamers i can be weird with! each of you should know who you are and know the impact you have had on me this past year. so this is my thank you for 2012. 

this year more than any year, i have felt the passing of time and social age gaps. so i’ve decided that the new year will welcome a shift in Maiden Threads. enter: ABSENCE OFCOLOUR: curated by Maiden. this new project is basically a continuation of the Friends of Maiden exhibition we held mid this year. where i collated things of interest to share with like minded individuals, enthusiasts, artists, designers and creative’s. it will be much like a visual diary of progression for the rebirth of a more refined label, not just of clothing but a lifestyle. through Maiden i was able to somewhat educate people about their unseen surroundings regarding the industry and art scene, and through AOC i want to showcase a collection of design elements, techniques and concepts that undermines the traditional way of perceiving objects.

i will still run the Maiden Threads blog, as it will just act as a personal blog. but i am looking to push this concept further than i did with Maiden, as i feel it is critical to go back to the roots of design and craftsmanship to broaden the understanding of art itself.

so Maidens, it is completely your decision whether you follow us into our next chapter with [ABSENCE OF COLOUR]. we will hopefully see you in the new year for exciting projects and events!
m a i e :)xx 

a year in reverse.

i'm finding that my style and vision for this label is becoming more and more irrelevant to today's haunting mass appeal. what i wear or don't wear is an expression of me, not what magazines or fashion bloggers feed me. black is a state of mind, not a fucking trend. the new year will see a shift in direction for Maiden. 

no hipsters allowed.

[photo credits: @timtamberlina @creative_binge @machickomotoi @jrmz]