VOL 1
Spring Journal
SPRING JOURNAL 2012 Welcome to our first Ollie & Max Journal. A little fun with a big heart much the same as the soul of Ollie & Max. A mixture of substance along with style tips, articles and our opportunity to interview people who inspire. Read our interviews with Homewares Designer Juliet Horsley and CEO of Wayside Chapel Graham Long. READ ABOUT: -Homewares guru Juliet Horsely our friend, who you might know from her popular homewares shop in Mudgee NSW (via Melbourne). One of the funniest girls we know with a great love for Australia and the country. www.juliethorley.com.au. -Reverend Graham Long, CEO of The Wayside Chapel, Sydney. A people warrior who works on behalf of those who have fallen by the wayside, and allows those of us who haven’t to understand life a little better. Enjoy your reading. We would love to hear what you think info@ollieandmax.com.au Cheers, Samantha Burns Designer and Director Ollie & Max
CONTENTS I I NTR ODU C T I O N Spring Journal II S P R I NG L O O K III JU LI E T H O R S L EY JH Homewares IV W HAT TO WEA R Styles for spring V NAU TI C A L Jersey Stripes VI GR AHA M L O N G People we admire VII I TALI AN Italian Linen VIII RE AL WO M EN Article IX B LAC K & WH I T E Classics X E NJOY Y O U R S P R I N G
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SPRING LOOK “Is the spring coming?” he said. “What is it like?”... “It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...” -Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
06 / S P R I N G
Photograph by Sam McAdam
INTERVIEW Homewares guru Juliet Horsley- her passion for travel, entertaining & country Australia Juliet Horsely runs the popular Juliet Horsley Homewares in Mudgee NSW. One of the funniest girls we know with a great love for Australia and the country. www.juliethorsley.com.au
An ideal day? Ideal day… sunshine, outside, great food and wine with family and friends.
What is on your to do wish list? To travel around Australia. Who/what inspires you? I’ve seen more of overseas Nature inspires me. It is pretty than I have my own country and I would love to visit wonderful. Also, travel is inspiring. outback towns and meet Especially now as opposed Aussie characters. I often to my early twenties. I notice see the ‘grey nomads’ on the different things, and it’s also highway and feel a little bit more about the food and wine. envious. When I was younger I was besotted with India Hicks. I What do you wish for the world? still am really. Happiness. What does Juliet Horsley What is the best lesson mean to you? JH Homewares is my you have learnt? independence. Not only is it To bring what you want into your my way to make a living it is life you must focus on having it. also my joy. I am very lucky to Not on the absence of it. be able to do what I love.
08 / J U L I E T H O R S L E Y
Name 5 people you would most like to have dinner with (living or dead)? Oprah, Keith Urban ('cause I looove him), my twin sister ('cause she loves him too), My brother (who passed away) and my husband (can't wait to meet him). What would you cook? Roast chicken, Tiramisu with a bottle of Simon Gilbert Rose. Ideal setting? A warm spring evening under wisteria on a long timber table with blossom, a linen tablecloth and napkins, baskets of warm crusty bread and lots of fresh limes somewhere...
WHAT TO WEAR
Enjoy your spring with Wardrobe Favourites. Mix & Match. For any age.
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White panama hat goes with everything /1 Pretty white dress with an adjustable belt (creates a waist or hip look) /2 Statement necklace makes a favourite dress seem new /3 Easy to wear shoes /4
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1/ White cotton shirt- for casual day or dress up night 2/ Stripe jersey skirt- comfort and presentable 3/ Handmade leather belt (adjustable to create a waist or hip look) 4/ Classic patent ballet pumps- day or night
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NAUTICAL “Fashion is what you’re offered four times a year. Style is what you pick out of that fashion... Based on what looks good on you.” -Lauren Hutton
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STRIPES OLLIE & MAX JERSEYS
A good stripe will take you everywhere. Especially if they are ‘Skim not Cling Styles’. Loose fitting jersey dresses. Skirts with double layer to hide underwear lines etc. Extra room, extra length. Everyday Favourites.
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- Interview -
PEOPLE WE ADMIRE GRAHAM LONG Reverend Graham Long, CEO of e Wayside Chapel, Sydney. A people warrior who works on behalf of those who have fallen by the wayside, and allows those of us who haven’t to understand life a little better. What is the most important lesson you have learnt? “at the fundamental human unit is two. at the word “I” at best refers only to half of something.”
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1 / W h o / w h at i n s p i r e s y o u ? There is plenty of inspiration from every day as I see people step out of their lives for others. From the chairman of our Board who could be living a comfortable life without a care for anything except how to preserve his wealth, to a street person who suddenly finds the energy to do something for someone else or to share their last cigarette. I’ve seen some wealthy people put awe and sacrificial power into possession and I’ve seen a poor person put meaning and joy into a cigarette.
Imagine if the religious leaders around the world knew that they could not divide world into good and bad, in or out, saved and lost but only into those who enact love and those who are too busy.
2 / What is on your ‘to-do’ wish list? The demand in our cafe has become so great that the kitchen designed for teaching life skills has become dominated by the needs of the cafe. I’m keen to build a commercial kitchen that will not only provide fresh, healthy meals but will also become a place of training and become a pathway for some back into employment. I’m also keen as mustard to employ an additional aboriginal worker. Our work with aboriginal women is flourishing but there is a pressing need to work with men.
5 / What does The Wayside mean to you? It’s a place with an inspiring mission, to create community with no them and us. It’s a journey rather than a destination and so we constantly have to remind each other to keep the main thing the main thing. There is a reflex in most of us that knows for a short time that a cup of coffee given generously on the worst day of your life is priceless but that soon enough it all of that is overcome by finding out who put the sugar in the wrong cupboard.
4 / What is the most important lesson you have learnt? That the fundamental human unit is two. That the word “I” at best refers only to half of something.
6 / What is a day in the life of Wayside like? This question needs an essay rather than a short answer.
3 / What do wish for the world? I’d love for the major religions of the world to realise that God doesn’t give a fruit about what anyone believes. If they knew that the At this moment there are homeless people will of God cannot be held, or understood, or crowding in the cafe getting breakfast reflected upon, or explained but only done.
organised. There is another group waiting for their morning shower. The youth area already has a handful of kids in discussion with one of our youth workers. There is a small group on our rooftop watering our garden and doing a bit of weeding. About 50 young mothers and fathers with their toddlers are arriving for this weeks Junior Jivers. This is a group who come into our hall on Monday for the sake of dancing and singing and having fun. There is a school group on the fourth floor right now for a short visit and when they leave there is a corporate group who will spend the day with us and throw lunch for the people who visit here later on. There is another group on the third floor who are part of our Day to Day Living programme and they are packing a picnic for a bus load of people heading on an outing today. There is a small number of aboriginal people gathered in their space tidying up after breakfast. The op shop is already buzzing with customers. There is about 20 people just sitting in the sun outside, enjoying the day. It’s a lovely day and its about 9.30 am. By about 11 am all kinds of other activities will be in full swing. There is a medical clinic that will be running by then a free legal service for homeless people and so on. Although we print programmes so that people can plan to make the best use of our facilities, I think it is actually impossible for any one person to stay on top of everything that happens here on any one day.
7 / Name 5 people you would most like to have dinner with & why? Tanya Plibersek because she has the qualities of leadership but is a truly lovely human being. Its a rare mix of qualities and Australia is lucky to have her in public service. Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull together, because their love for one another is real and wonderful example of teamwork. Malcolm and Tanya would be a formidable combination if in the same party. Jon Owen, who no-one knows but who works in Mt Druitt with Sydney’s forgotten and poorest and together with his wife Lisa do inspiring work at great personal cost and with no budget. Robert Holt, one of Sydney’s worst drunks that has for 2 years now been without a drink and is back in the workforce, reconciled with some of his family, volunteering at Wayside, making the world a better place and inspiring me. Michael Crowe who no-one knows but is a man who has overcome a background of unspeakable cruelty to spend his life and energy making the world a better place. Oooops that’s seven people. Sorry!
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ITALIAN In Italy, spring and love together should suffice to make the gloomiest person happy. -Bertrand Russell ad liv
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ITALIAN LINEN OLLIE & MAX LINEN
Wardrobe classics. For any age. Black Italian Linen Shirtdress below knee White Italian Linen Shirtdress with Black Morroccan Leather Belt Bone Italian Linen Shirtdress above knee White Italian Linen Shirtdress below knee
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REALISTIC IMAGES OF
WOMAN The size and age debate in the media Written by Samantha Burns
It always bewilders me why women of all ages and sizes are not largely represented in mainstream marketing images, especially in fashion. Lesson 101 in marketing is to appeal to your audience. Alienating half or most of your audience with images of size 8 6ft young models is not logical, nor good business Especially as that audience are a median size 14, 5ft 6, 40+ year olds. We are seeing growing issues with self esteem, objectification of women, and a younger generation who are being exposed to images/ issues that are not necessary. Have women lost their power to create change in the face of major marketing players.
caught in a chauvinistic 1950's advertising era. However aren't we led to believe we are in an age of cross gender equality (or close thereof). Why are more female editors not taking a stand. Or are these female editors caught in a web of self doubt, wanting to toe the party line but secretly pulling at their conscience. Some take the stand and are rewarded handsomely with rapturous applause. Why do not more follow. Why does the industry as a whole not follow.
Our current Ollie & Max “Real Women Campaign” features customers and friends aged 13-70yrs size 8-18 as models. It is essential to encourage women to feel confident in So why are these unrealistic images continually themselves whatever shape, age or size. Women targeted at intelligent, discerning, accomplished reacted with overwhelming gratitude to our women. When did we say “perfection is what images- why? They can relate to these women. we as consumers want to see”. Who set this Simple. Simple. Simple. misguided benchmark. Why include ourselves on this self effacing merry-go round. Even the Disappointingly many images claiming to be models we hold up to this standard cannot keep of ‘real women’ are digitally altered. Ollie & up. When did it become cultural advertising Max chose not to photoshop our images. The blasphemy to show an image of a women with interesting question was then posed by observers grey hair, a full figure, full face or age lines. God “Was real too confronting? Do consumers need forbid we see a 40yr old model, let alone anyone a real woman to be digitally enhanced, even just over the age of 50 or 60. Or a realistic image that a little, to make a product more appealing?”. The is not photoshopped. resounding answer was NO. So as a general rule why are marketing stalwarts, including fashion Have we woken up on the wrong side of the editors, not acting on this. gender marketing machine perhaps. Are we still
-Our lovely looking Ollie & Max model from our latest campaign 24 / R E A L W O M E N
As a woman in her mid 30's I struggle with these hyped up unrealistic images, on the one hand abhoring them and on the other catching myself inadvertently comparing. They permeate our advertising atmosphere so deeply that they seep into our conscious despite our knowledge that they are a product of a marketing machine. Our self esteem is battered down by the bombardment of aspirational, perfect advertising images of 'better, happier, perfect' lives. Perhaps it is the age old pursuit of perfectionism, ideal happiness, youth etc. When indeed we generally know that the grass is not greener on the other side. As women have we inadvertently contributed to this. Do we turn the other cheek and prioritize our busy lives above these issues thus perpetuating the cycle. The cycle of young women parading in bikinis to sell domestic products- domestic products that we continue to buy. The cycle of altered images, photoshop etc- in magazines we read, even if only in the checkout line. Are we inadvertently condoning unrealistic fashion images by letting others speak on our behalf. Why do we not form protests, boycott these products (what would we then be left to buy?) and campaign for proper representation. More importantly, what legacy are we leaving our younger women, our daughters. What lessons are we teaching them. Self esteem issues, anxiety, unrealistic expectations, aspirational purchasing creating credit card debt etc are all fallout factors from unrealistic advertising images. It is shocking to hear 10yr olds speaking of how 'fat' they are in
-Plus size models on cover of Italian Vogue July 2012 The fashion world considered this a major step, despite the images being incredibly provocative comparison to images in youth magazines, or how an outfit defines the sense of self of a 14yr old. For example, mainstream video clips shown to young audiences include scantily clad women dancing provocatively using uncouth or chauvinistic language. Products targeted to this age group feature unrealistically thin girls in adult oriented images. If these images affect us as an adult female audience how do they effect this youth audience as they form there sense of the world and their place in it.
This issue extends into the fashion we see on the streets. Shorts that show more than they should. Dresses short enough that with one flick of the wind underwear is shown. Girls and young women who shouldn't be, wearing clothes that make them look like they are not the educated, kind hearted girls they are. A male friend looked in shock from a restaurant window recently “Look at what that girl is wearing. Unusual choice for a lady of the night to be walking around this area”. I cringed “Thats not a lady of the night. That's fashion. That 22yr old probably paid $500 for that outfit (on a credit card)”.
The saddest part of this all is the objectification of women. Womanly has been traded for thin, but more frighteningly respect has been traded for sexualised images. Why is it now acceptable for an advertising firm to use a women in a bikini to sell beer. For young Hollywood starlets to advertise serious films with covers on mens magazines. For female models to bow in front of cameras for the sake of cleavage prone photos. Since the age of time gender has distinguished the activities and perceptions of the sexes. A power play. A romantic, social and political tool. However women are now in an age of supposed social enlightenment and power. Why are we at the bottom of the fight on this issue. Why are we struggling to turn the tide. Body image and age in modern media are important issues for debate which extend past the mere purchasing of clothing. The situation we currently find ourselves in is simply wrong. It is unrealistic. It is embarrassing. It is long overdue for change. As women we need to make this change. Fight for this change. Amongst our busy lives add another thing to our list. Somehow we at Ollie & Max are going to figure in this too. We are women of course and we can achieve this. For ourselves and for those that come after us.
-Supermodel Christy Turlington bucking the trend photographed naturally as a 40yr+ model. An advocate that health and education are more powerful than the pursuit of beauty or a size 8.
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BLACK & WHITE “When you photograph people in colour, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls!” -Ted Grant
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CLASSICS OLLIE & MAX BLACK & WHITE Ollie Black & White Shirt White Christabelle Dress with Black Morroccan Leather Belt Ollie White Cotton Shirt Grey Organic Cotton Dress
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E NJ O Y YOU R spring!
32 / E N J O Y Y O U R S P R I N G
CONTACT US Ollie & Max Showroom 110/59 Marlborough St Surry Hills NSW 2010 +61 2 9380 2513 info@ollieandmax.com.au www.ollieandmax.com.au
CHARITIES WE SUPPORT WWF WAYSIDE