Happy Easter everyone! I thought I might offer you a break from your chocolate binge this weekend with a refreshing splash in the face of FASHFEST Canberra talk.

Every time Canberra designer Zoe Brown (WND.LND) is about to unveil a new collection, I find myself both metaphorically and physically on the edge of my seat (terrible for the posture). While we are now all familiar with Zoe’s very distinctive style ethos from her previous collections at Avant-Garden 2012 and FashFest 2013 – Faux-Naïveté, indifferent sex appeal and artificial floral drama – you never know just exactly what to expect on show day. WND.LND will be showing again at this year’s FashFest, Canberra’s biggest annual fashion festival. When asked what to expect from her new collection, Zoe gave up but one clue – “Ice Cream”. The mind runs wild with possibilities. Will a model actually walk down the runway in a giant ice cream? It wouldn’t shock me at all when it comes to WND.LND, which makes pushing boundaries of wearability a bit of a core mission.

And speaking of wearability, yes, there have been some pretty OTT offerings from WND.LND – ‘cabbage’ prints, full length mesh and flower applique gowns and artificial rose filled knickerbockers – but as has been demonstrated by it’s ready-to-wear range which has been on sale on the website and also at Hustle & Scout Twilight Fashion Markets, WND.LND’s runway concepts translate wonderfully to retail sale, with the runway looks transported verbatim. I recalled Zoe’s comment to me over a year ago, that her plan for this year was to make her work more commercial. She has certainly done that. Her 2013 collection was somewhere between gothic Lolita and rock chic. The ‘Lost Innocence Playsuit’ is one my favourite pieces from WND.LND’s 2013 collection. Styled with a grungy leather jacket, it’s the kind of feminine-masculine juxtaposition that I’m loving right now.

If you’re wondering about the fairyland creature I have dangling from my ears, this is one of Canberra jewellery label ZARIĆ Jewellery’s pompom earrings, but more on that later this week!

You can shop WND.LDN on its  website and also at Hustle & Scout Twilight Fashion Markets. Also worth following is their Facebook and Instagram at @wndlnd!

WND.LDN’s 2014 collection will be showing at this year’s FASHFEST Canberra (30 April – 3 May) – check out the information on what tickets are on sale – but get them quick before they run out!

WND.LND ‘Lost Innocence Playsuit’ (here)
BLK DNM Biker Jacket
ZARIĆ Jewellery’s Pompom Earrings
Rag & Bone Newbury Boots