The New Sexy might be a necklace that goes Aaarrgh, writes fashion editor, Janice Breen Burns.
HARRIET Vine and Rose Wolfenden, of the London-based jewellery brand Tatty Devine, cut flat resin sheets into the letters of an orgasmic Oooooooh and fasten them onto necklace chains. In Melbourne, limited numbers of the piece are barely unpacked at by a hotchpotch market, hungry for The New and as diverse as "We get the gallery curator, the rockabilly tattoo freak, the 15-year-old girl, all looking for that 'something' experimental and personal," says Wiegard, codirector with three others in the Fat4 chain.
Melbourne is mad for Tatty Devine and a growing band of and wit. They make slogan pins and badges that take the mickey out brooches, ironic necklaces and impossibly charming earrings.
"There's another Tatty piece of a dinosaur skeleton," adds Wiegard, warming to a request for her list of favourites.
"Thirty bone on the other." She"s fond of US designer Steven Shein"s work, Melbourne-based Love label. "Bambi silhouettes, and a girl on a swing.
It's popular with the young 15-year-olds because it talks to them."
What exactly does it say? The wit that binds this new wave of crest eight years ago, stringing budgerigar identity ankle rings popularity has exploded so markedly across several fashion markets, it could be accurately described as a cultural phenomenon.
"People door, but they can add something different that says something about their identity, and hand made design, and their interest in popular culture," says Wiegard The jewellery they pick is often ingenious and wickedly funny. It makes people laugh, and sends out signals: "I can lighten up - can you?" In a way, it takes the mickey out of fashion itself, and people who take fashion seriously.
It"s got nothing to do with sex, and yet it could be Karen Rieschieck, director of Melbourne shop Alice Euphemia, sees the one-off designed jewellery she specialises in, including salted with tiny diamonds, and Sarah Parkes' perforated black leather dolphin pendants on macrame necklaces, in a culture-wide context. "If luxury isn't luxury any more - and it isn't, because now - then, well, you need something precious and individual to replace it."
So, witty plastic brooches are the new sexy, and the new luxury?
for the past decade. "I don't think it's much fun being part of pushing a brand," she says tartly. "But If they don't want to spend money on a designer outfit without any soul, well, there's our fun!
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Girlsmadethis, at Husk, Elizabeth, Melody Nelson, To the Max, Phillips, Ladedah and Ojay. Phone 0404 012 927 and .
Liliana, at Serenity shops, Prosperity, Elana and Mesh.
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