Happy New Years everybody! OK OK, so I am about a week late and it’s getting a bit passe to wish a fantastic 2013 onto everyone however I am still buzzing about the start of the year. How fantastic – a new year, a new adventure and plenty of new successes to come (hopefully!).

Looking back on the year that was (in work and personal life) so much has happened and has easily been the.most. eventful year of my life. I’m not going to list all the craziness so I thought I would share with you some photos of year that was (I work visually anyway so I’m sure this will satisfy us both). Just before that I do want to talk about my New Years resolutions.

2012 was a year for myself and many of those around me a year of transition. As I observed those around me (and upon reflection) many of us struggled to gain our footing and traction in a new environment at work, with friends or family. I heard complaints from friends around me about how things weren’t working out and something just stood out upon listening. Everyone blames their partners for not being supportive enough or their boss for being too tough, however I am on a mission to make 2013 a year to reclaim ourselves and our own lives. It’s easy to blame others for the way your life is turning out but you are the only one in the drivers seat of your world. It’s sappy I know – get used to it, it’s going to get worse.

A gifted actress I know told me a story about how she was in a challenging rehearsal with her Director who had noticed she was a little bit off. With a little bit of digging my friend revealed that all was not right in her world and how she wished “things would just change.” This Director offered these words as advice, “you are the star in your own movie. If something is not working, you change it. If it’s boring, stop watching and change it. If it’s too dramatic, change the channel and create what you want. You write the script to your own life.”

Dramatic and emotional as it is, this just holds so much truth. We all have to take control for our own lives and what is going on so 2013 should be all about you – no more blaming, take control of your life. Make it what you want to be because…. YOLO. You really do!

If you haven’t made a New Years resolution yet you might have just found it. Make this year exactly and perfectly what you want it to be. No one else will!

 

What a way to bring in 2012. Falls Festival! Sun, amazing friends and music. Cannot recommend this enough!

This consumed us for all of January – how to organise the biggest and brightest party of the year when everyone is on break. Note to self – January is a horrible time to organise events! We were so pleased with the results and couldn’t have asked for a better way to enter the online game! Myself with Emily McFarlane (Couturing model) and Lisa in a gorgeous Nicola Finetti gown. Thank you so much to our sponsors and of course Melbourne’s GPO.

 

L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival. How could I go past this? Couturing’s first major fashion festival and with the introduction of CouturingTV we were off to a great start. With Alex Perry, Lisa and Stacey June (CouturingTV host)

Working with and featuring in Weekend Weekly – Hong Kong’s #1 travel magazine. With a twelve page spread we had no idea how this had happened however we were asked for our tips on Melbourne hotspots – and we definitely gave them!

One of our ultimate hotspots this year has been Madam Virtue & Co. Thank you for all your support in the year – we just had to recommend you for Weekend Weekly. Dean and JC are the most wonderful people in fashion and would highly recommend a visit!

Fashion and playing dress ups!!! What a great year for it – one of my personal favorite looks – SpiritHood faux fox fur shawl, Tom Ford sunglasses, Karl Lagerfeld sweater with Cheap Monday jeans.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia – what a great week! Lisa and I seated at the Lisa Ho show, my personal highlight of the week. Cannot wait for MBFWA 2013.

Our editorials – this is one of my all time favorite images. Featuring Silvana Lovin and photography by Rosanna Farraci (who does some of the most amazing shots I have seen in a long time. What a great woman!) and makeup by Kate McCleary. I love all the elements, the colours and the vibe. Could be my favorite shot. Taken at The Olsen hotel.

Melbourne Spring Fashion Week – working with fantastic stylist Connel Chiang on the Tomorrows Heroes show (and during the year) is definitely right up there on highlights and of course attending the week!

Being named as one of the Melbourne Ambassadors for the City of Melbourne during winter to promote activity in the city alongside other influential Melbournians such as Guy Grossi, Andy Murphy and Lauren Brain. Such an experience beyond belief and so very proud to talk about Melbourne time and time again!

Launching our new website! Oh my goodness this was such a work in progress however couldn’t me happier with the updated look and fuctionality of the site. Since launching we’ve noticed a peak in traffic so we are so very happy you are all enjoying it as well and keep coming back! Thank you!
We also couldn’t be happier with the work all of our brand new team are doing – from the new fashion, beauty and lifestyle Editors to our newly appointed writers we have all worked so hard together and the results are clear.

Delilah – this lovely lady signed to Warner Music was flown to Sydney to support Prince while he was on tour. With only a few days to spare Delilah made it into the country and with some spare time flew to Melbourne to shoot exclusively for Couturing. We couldn’t have been luckier and to have personally styled this talented singer gave me such pleasure. With a challenging sense of style, see above, I couldn’t be happier with the results. Shot at Studio Bastille by Rosanna Faracci, hair by Ciccone cosmetics and makeup by Bodyography.

What can I say – parties parties parties. How could you not have fun? This is Jessica King and I at the Sunglass Hut Floating Store launch in Sydney. With guest Georgia May Jagger and a private fireworks show, this party on a boat in the middle of Darling Harbour had to take the cake!

Lisa and I at the Ray-Ban 75th anniversary party. Thank you to QT hotel and Ray-Ban for the experience.
I couldn’t ask for a better partner and what a year it has been for us both – Lisa is so kind, smart and determined it really does drive me a lot of the time. With both of us having such a passion for this industry it’s good to work with someone you actually also like! Thank you Lisa.

Above all the press, the photoshoots, the parties, the recognition, the launches and perks one of biggest highlights of 2012 has been working with such a wonderful, talented and strong group of people who are just as interested in this industry as I am. I couldn’t be prouder of our team, our photographers, writers and everyone. I have also loved collaborating and cross-connecting with others in this industry. You can’t thank everyone, if I could I think I would need alot of server space and plenty of patient friends who would read it all out. However thank you – you know who you are! It moves at a fast pace and if you don’t keep up you will get lost which makes it tricky to slow down and enjoy it, but I truly have. Happy New Year everyone! Photo by Sabine Legrand at L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2012.

About The Author

Thom Whilton

Thom Whilton is co-Founder and current Creative Director of Couturing.com. He has been published in a variety of publications for his written and styling work. Thom has been featured in Vogue.com.au, Weekend Weekly, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, M Magazine, The Vine and Everguide to name just a few. Thom was also Ambassador for the City of Melbourne (2012) has styled for Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (2012) and his work has featured in Couturing and MX Magazine. He has also styled celebrities such as Delilah (Warner Music, supported Prince in tour), Nadia Coppolino and Silvana Lovin-Philoppousis.

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